Outside six goals for trainer Marie Harding.
Grainne A Chroi shone for trainer Marie Harding as she took the Matchbook Betting Exchange Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.
The seven-year-old came close in a third grade in Limerick when last seen in March, returning at the same level under John Shinnick as a 16-1 prospect.
The 342-day break and a training crash posed little hindrance as the mare showed great courage to take a three-quarter victory as an outsider in a field of six.
“That was great, we’re very happy,” Harding said. “She’s actually a good mare, but she’s gotten stronger as she’s gotten older.
“We were a little worried because she had a bad fall during her schooling just before Christmas. She told us she was right, but we were still nervous. Her skin was unreal.
“She’s tough and she actually did very well. She really came around the bend traveling and he went for it.”
‘John hadn’t sat on her for a long time, but he won her first hurdle.
“We were just worried about today and we’ll see where we go now. We’ll see how she does tomorrow. She’ll tell us where we go.”
She added: “That was amazing, I can’t believe it. She’s our pet at home. She’s not overly big, but she has a serious heart.”
The Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Mares Maiden Hurdle went the way of How’s Hannah, ridden by Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
The seven-year-old made her debut over hurdles after winning a bumper and a point to point, and made short work of her first attempt as she prevailed by two lengths with the third-placed horse 42 lengths behind.
“I think she is a very good mare,” said the winning rider of the 1-2 favorite.
“I wanted to use one of my 21 rides (in rules races as an amateur) on her because I just think she’s really good.
“We might be looking at the Grade Three in Limerick at Cheltenham.
“Ideally we would have raced her in Clonmel last week but that was cancelled. We’re a week closer now so we’ll see.”
“In the long term I hope she will be in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham next year. She is a nice, big mare and I love her.
“She gallops and jumps. We were very lucky with Tim Townend (breeder) when he recommended you listen.”
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