Locally based trainer and ice-injured Billy Harney and his luckless Prairie Call gained a deserved win in the Cashel Mares Maiden Hurdle at Thurles today.

Prairie Call had been placed on four previous occasions but battled gamely for an all-out head win over 9/10f Golden Sunbird to provide the much under-used winning rider Robbie Colgan with just his second winner of the season.

Afterwards Harney was represented by his daughter Rachel Harney who revealed “dad fell on ice last Saturday and only had it operated last night in Tullamore hospital. This will cheer him up! Prairie Call deserved the win and goes on any ground.”