Cork mare wins the bumper up North

Sheer Liss (8/1) made the long journey from Co.Cork a worthwhile one when taking the Play 1-2-Free at Ladbrokes.com Mares INH Flat Race in the hands of 7lbs claimer Mikey O’Sullivan.

The Shirocco 5-year-old gave chase to 5/2 favourite Lady Heath racing to the final furlong, and stayed on well to get the better of that one by a length and a half, with Class Bishop Lady (17/2) keeping on for third on debut another four and a half lengths away.

Placed once in five point-to-points, the winner had made a good start in bumpers when fourth (promoted to third) behind subsequent hurdles winner Shewearsitwell at Galway.

She’s a half-sister to three-time winner Just Janice.

Patrick Casey, assistant to winning trainer Paul Cashman, said: “We always thought a lot of her at home. Her point-to-point form wasn’t great but she always showed us plenty.

“We are delighted with her now.

“They probably just didn’t go as quick for her (in Galway) but definitely the better gallop here suited her.

“We came here for the big galloping track and the ground suited her. We were hoping they would go a good gallop, that’s why we rode her a bit handier.

“We’ll see how she comes out of it and we might go for another bumper or go over hurdles.”

Additional reporting by Michael Graham