Champagne hurdle performance by Harmony

Champagne Harmony has always been held in the highest regard by Stephen Mahon, and the Stowaway gelding made a successful jumping debut in the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The six-year-old gelding won bumpers at Galway and Cork last year, and was sent off the evens favourite in this two-mile affair. Miss Benefitz ensured a really truly run race by storming off in front and was all of 20 lengths clear at halfway.

She was reeled in approaching the straight with Ger Fox sending Champagne Harmony to the front before two out.

He jumped well and galloped on strongly to beat Crocodile Dundee by 17 lengths, with Robbina staying on late to take third spot.

To her credit Miss Benefitz didn’t drop out completely, and kept on one paced to take fourth.

Mahon said, "Stupidly I ran him at Navan with a view to then running in the Cheltenham Bumper but he pulled muscles and was lame behind for two weeks and that's why he has been missing since.

"If he had run at Cheltenham, he'd have put it up to them but the reason I've gone over hurdles is that I'd be happier with a fence in front of him and he'll go chasing next season.

"He never had a schooling hurdle before today but he is an exceptional jumper of a chase fence. He'll have one more run over hurdles, maybe at Punchestown, and will go chasing next season.

"I'd nearly take out my license again and get my weight back down to ride him over fences!"

(TW & AM)