Felina provided owner Val Ledwith with his first winner when carrying the Meathman's red and black colours to a 13/2 victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race.

Ledwith, from Batterstown, enjoyed great success “in his day” as a veteran athlete and fondly recalled winning the Irish veterans cross country championship around the track at Mallow in the 1970's.

“This is a great double with the filly winning on the same course as I won the Irish veterans cross country championship,” said a delighted Ledwith.

The Paul Deegan-trained filly was always travelling well, and kept on strongly in the final furlong to beat Bogini (6/1) by a length and a half with Fast Finian (7/1) finishing well just a short-head further back in third.

Deegan's assistant Paul Coyle said, “It's great to get a win for the filly. She has plenty of natural speed, travelled well and got away with the ground.”

Alan Magee