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Darling Daughter delights O'Neill in mares' bumper

Darling Daughter strides home in LimerickDarling Daughter strides home in Limerick
© Photo Healy Racing

Darling Daughter justified favouritism with a smooth display in the mares' bumper for lady riders in Limerick.

Lisa O'Neill 's mount tracked front-running Fairyhill Run throughout and made good headway to collar that rival when she got tired a furlong and a half out. More Info came with her run, however, Darling Daughter was ridden inside the final furlong and kept finding to increase the winning margin to three lengths at the line.

The winner was returned a well-supported 7/4 from 3/1 shot More Info. Wild Atlantic Lady (20/1) kept on for third, a further length and a quarter away.

Lisa O'Neill said: "She did it very well in the end and Gordon (Elliott) has done a great job with her. Her point-to-point experience stood to her and she is a nice filly for the future.

"Rob James (winning jockey in her point to point) thought she was a nice filly and she stays well. It is very testing out there and she handled it very well."

The Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Ms Avena O'Keeffe, regarding the failure of Sarah Kavanagh, rider of Chelseas Friend placed fifth to weigh in after this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that this was the case. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards disqualified Chelseas friend from fifth place in accordance with the provisions of Rule 230 (ii). Furthermore, the stewards were satisfied that Sarah Kavanagh was in breach of Rule 227 and, having considered her record, they suspended her for two race days and ordered that she forfeit her riding fee. Amended result: Darling Daughter placed first, More Info placed second, Wild Atlantic Way placed third, Dysart Diamond placed fourth and Fairyhill Run placed fifth.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.