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Remarkable victory for slow-starting Pretty Rebel

Pretty Rebel and Dean Curran (nearest) get up to deny Ottawa Fire (Jamie Powell)  Pretty Rebel and Dean Curran (nearest) get up to deny Ottawa Fire (Jamie Powell)
© Photo Healy Racing

Had spectators, and bookmakers, been in attendance at the Curragh, there would have been more than a few torn-up dockets fluttering in the air after the start of the AES Bord na Mona Apprentice Handicap.

Fifth choice in the betting in a field of 23, Pretty Rebel (8/1) looked to have lost all chance when rearing as the stalls opened and handing a good eight lengths start to her rivals.

They seemed to go a good pace up front, though, which helped Dean Curran’s mount to gradually get into contention inside the final quarter mile and she came through to collar Ottawa Fire 10/3 fav) inside the final furlong for a most unlikely half a length success.

The front-running Wee Pablo (13/2) was third with Dark Magic (50/1) completing the placings.

Adrian Joyce, assistant to winning trainer Ger O’Leary, commented: “It was a great performance. It was nervous stuff at the start and I thought she had blown it at the gates. She did very well to win.

“She's a progressive filly and was unlucky the last day when she got nailed late on in Gowran.

“She's going to progress through the ranks this year, I'd say, she's a nice filly.

“We'll look for something similar again. Her half-sister Newgirlintown progressed all last year and it's a good staying family so she should get a bit further as well.

“The ground is the key to her, she needs a little cut in it, and we were delighted to see the rain all morning.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
8/1
Tote €9.00 €1.70
2nd
0.5L
10/3Fav
€1.30
3rd
1.5L
13/2
€2.60
4th
1.25L
50/1
€13.00
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.