Betty goes one better than last year

The Dennison JCB Maiden Hunters Chase was won by Big Girl Betty (10/3) who went one better than in the corresponding contest the previous year.

Owned by local man Leo Matheson, the daughter of Getaway led before the second-last and stayed on well under Johnny Barry to account for Grageen by three and three-quarter lengths. 

Trainer Mark McNiff reported: "She's on the go a long time. 

"She was to run in the autumn and it went from very quick to very soft overnight and she didn't actually get to run. 

"She went down to Cork after Christmas and was in the parade ring when the meeting was abandoned with wind and rain. 

"She went to Tyrella then and didn't jump well for whatever reason and made hard work of what she shouldn't have made hard work of. 

"Then she was to go to Cork and here, and Cork was heavy and this was abandoned. Then the Down Royal race was a stronger race than this and she needed the run. She came on nicely for it.

"For a big mare, she flew around here for whatever reason. She was second in this last year when only a five-year-old."

Quotes from Michael Graham