Cooper and Meade strike at Cork with Sheishybrid

Sheishybrid put in a solid round of jumping to run out a comfortable winner of the opening Mallow Mares' Maiden Hurdle at Cork.

Making most of the running under jockey Bryan Cooper, the Noel Meade trained mare found plenty for pressure when challenged in the straight.

Both Shona Mea and Still Ciel emerged as serious threats as the field turned for home but big jumps at the final three flights saw the Meade trained four-year-old emerge victorious.

Sheishybrid looked to have seen off Shona Mea when that one came to grief two out and always had enough in reserve to hold the persistent challenge of eventual runner-up Still Ciel.

Bryan Cooper said; “I knew she’d come on plenty from the last day. She jumped very deliberate over the first couple of hurdles the last day but we had done plenty of schooling at home and I knew today she was going to be a lot sharper.

“She was pulling up a little bit in front so I knew there was plenty left. She stuck at it well.

“When you are running in summer maidens you don’t get to school on grass as much as you would during the winter so I think she will improve again. She’s a great fun horse for the owners and there are plenty of races to be won with her.

“I was trying to stretch them from the front without using up too much. When she picked up in straight I knew it would take a fair one to outstay me.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee