Theflyingbee (11/8 fav) was a popular winner of the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

Trained for his wife by Finbar Hand near Navan, the Morozov mare raced close to the pace and led two out. Pressed at the last by the staying-on Kimjoy, she was left clear when that one fell and stayed on well for Danny Mullins to beat Drumgill by three and a quarter lengths.

Finbarr Hand said: "Danny said she was very raw the way she finished out to the line. He said there was a lot more to come because she was so raw through the race.

"He said we will have plenty of fun through the summer.

"She's hard on herself, her head is her biggest enemy and that's why I got her so cheap at the Sales.

"Hopefully, she will be fine in the morning and we will tip on during the summer.

"I'll miss Punchestown, I'm not going to go to the final as it would just be too soon for her. She's a fractious type of a mare, but she was honest there today.

"Philip Rothwell's horse (front-runner Break The Boundary helped me, but at the same time probably wasn't going fast enough. She is a dour stayer.

"I'm sorry that Jack Martin couldn't ride the winner, he helps me out big-time. He'll have loads of chances, he's a right young lad.

"I'm delighted, it is a lot of pressure off."

Quotes from Michael Graham