Seven year old mare and 98-rated Steak And Onions (4/1) got off the mark at the 17th attempt today, bagging Wexford's opening Loch Garman (Mares) Opportunity Maiden Hurdle for trainer Eoin McCarthy and jockey Gary Noonan.

The daughter of Mahler's only previous placing was at Listowel last September and today made all, jumping slightly to her right, to defeat runner-up Rebel Rose by a length and a half.

Afterwards jockey Noonan said “the plan was to make the running — she had tried it in Killarney (in May) and enjoyed herself. She hung right and jumped right that day and threw away the race - there was no particular reason for it, she hadn’t done it before and we thought if she came here today and jumped straighter that she’d win.

“She deserved it as she is a grand tough mare and stuck at it well up the hill. She was able to dictate it and she enjoyed it."

Quotes from Donal Murphy