Annie wins at Odds of 33/1 in Clonmel opener

Annie Odds caused a major shock when defying odds of 33/1 in the opening Surehaul Race Day Mares Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The James King-trained daughter of Mahler was let down by some poor jumping on her hurdle debut at Punchestown last month but put in a much better show here.

Market leaders Gipsy Lee Rose and Edene d’Arc were prominent throughout and looked set to fight out the finish in the straight.

However Jack Doyle got a great tune out of Annie Odds from the last, and she flew home to grab the spoils close home in this 2m3f event.

The front-running Gipsy Lee Rose was half a length back in second, with Edene d’Arc another length away in third.

The minor places were confirmed following a stewards enquiry after Gipsy Lee Rose drifted left under pressure on the run-in.

King said, "She has always shown ability at home but took a while to come together. She had a nice run the last day and I thought she'd improve out of it and while she was a big price today, we didn't think we were out of the picture.

"She is a good mare and will move on from this. She is for sale and if she isn't, we'll continue on and is up to Listed class.

"We are more point to point people but have the odd one for the track. I'd take more for the track if I could get them but point to points are our game buying and selling.

"That's my third track winner and it was lovely that my cousin Jack rode her. He's heading back to American shortly so he can go back on a winner now."

(TW & AM)