De Lady In Red and Barry O'Neill © Photo Healy Racing
De Lady In Red was the one for money in the morning (from as big as 9/2) and got the job done in the Try Racing TV For FREE Now Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The Galway bumper winner chased the leaders under Barry O’Neill before going on at the end of the back straight with all of her rivals starting to struggle behind her.
She looked set for a wide-margin success at that point but the 5/6 favourite Humble Glory stuck to her task well up the straight and there were a few anxious moments for the winner’s connections on the run-in.
The line came in time, though, as the daughter of Jet Away lasted home by three quarters of a length to get off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt.
Winning trainer Barry Connell said: “It's nice to get that done, I thought she was going to do it a bit easier.
“I don't know whether she idled or pulled herself up in front but she galloped away halfway down the back (before pulling up) like she did in Galway so she's going to step up in trip in time.
“That was her first go over the Easyfix hurdles. I thought her run at Navan in March (second to Bigbadandbeautiful) was good enough to win that.
“She keeps improving and she's tough. When these mares start improving you have a chance.
“Barry said she jumps like a handicapper. I don't know why she pulled herself up in front but that's another day's work.
“She'll probably go for a winners of one and there is a listed two-and-a-half mile mares novice in Punchestown, the Voler La Vedette, in early December.
“She might get one more run and if we're still going forward we'll go down that route and if not we'll go handicapping.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
