Barron shines on debutante Lady

Ray Barron gave Lady Of The Locke a fine front-running ride to land the concluding four-year-old bumper at Thurles this afternoon.

Barron bounced out and set the fractions on the Churchill filly and had a five-length advantage along the top bend on Charles Byrnes' charge. The Lookout Man tried to throw down a challenge in the straight but Lady Of The Locke found plenty in the closing stages to record a four length victory at odds of 11/1.

The Flat-bred filly is a half-sister to Listed winner Canary Row and had gone through the ring as a yearling for €45,000.

Byrnes said:- “She finished third in a schooling race here about ten days ago.

“We were expecting a good run but naturally we didn’t think we’d beat the favourite.

“She was bought to do something on the Flat and she handles the ground. Hopefully she’ll jump a hurdle.

“She might go for a mares’ bumper.”

4/11 favourite Colcannon could only finish third after coming off the bridle early in the straight.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)