Betty Zane makes all for hurdles win

Keen-going front-runner Betty Zane made all to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe today, scoring for trainer Ciaran Murphy, owner Jim Robinson and jockey Conor Orr.

The daughter of Stowaway was making her seasonal reappearance on her first start since March and fought off all rivals, beating runner-up Erins Benefit by a length and three parts.

Rookie trainer Murphy, who sent out Enjoy D'allen to finish third in Easter's Irish Grand National, today reported “she was entitled to be fizzy (on reappearance run) but she behaved herself well. She’s not fully fit but we saw this opportunity and said we’d take it.

"The bit of ease in the ground was ideal as she's a heavy set mare and probably running fresh suits her even though she took a blow.

“This track lends itself to one like her. It’s a real front-runners track.

“Her year is only starting now and I’m hoping she can get a bit of black type over hurdles before we go chasing. She has plenty of scope.

“She’s homebred by Jim (Robinson) and will be a lovely mare to breed from down the road.”

Elizabeth Zane McLaughlin Clark, aka Betty Zane, was a heroine of the Revolutionary War on the American frontier in the 18th century.

Quotes from Alan Magee