The three-mile handicap hurdle at Limerick proved a real war of attrition but the testing conditions proved no problem for Currig's Girl who ran out a wide margin winner.

Denis Leahy 's charge had finished a well held fifth on her previous outing here in November but there was good support for her today from 16/1 in the morning into 7/1.

Kevin Brouder chased the leaders on the Presenting mare before letting her slide into the lead going out on the final circuit.

The eight-year-old had things under control from the second last and could afford to cruise home from the final flight to post a 27 length winning margin.

"She was always promising to win one somewhere along the line but luckily my aunt Betty Moore has been very patient,” said Leahy.

“We said she would win and finally got there. Unfortunately she can't be here as she has the flu but she'll be watching from home and will be annoyed not to be here.

"She had a great run a few years back against geldings on heavy ground in a point to point and she is a Presenting mare and you'd think she wouldn't handle it but she does.

"Kevin gave her a fantastic ride and said he'd try something different today. He held her up a little bit, she isn't fast but she jumped and kept going.

"Hopefully the handicapper won't be too cruel to us and she is in again next Thursday so she'll run if she is right."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)