Crawley lands valuable pot with Sassy Diva

Sassy Diva provided owner/trainer Shane Crawley with his biggest winner todate when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old was having her first run in handicap company after finishing second to the talented Honeysuckle in a Listed race at Thurles last time and went off the well-backed 100/30 favourite with Sinoria ((in season) one of four non-runners. Cut The Mustard looked set for victory when travelling smoothly to lead in the straight but Sassy Diva finished with a flourish on the run-in.

Donagh Meyler ’s mount got up in the closing stages and finished really strongly to record a two lengths verdict. Agusta Gold held every chance a further half a length back in third, with last year’s winner Alletrix back in fourth.

Crawley said, “It was her first run in a handicap and she’d run in some small fields but luckily she had the class to get through it. Donagh is a real cool rider and rides with plenty of confidence. Like myself he went through the Tony Martin school!

“I was delighted with the ground as she has a real low action, and if we can get it like that all the time (for her) it would be great.

“I was delighted he (the handicapper) gave her the mark before we saw Honeysuckle again.

“I have seven in training at the minute. The horses are running well and we had a second at Down Royal the other day.

“I’d love to go chasing with her and I’d say this time next year she could be going to stud.

“She’s done her pelvis before so we’ve had to be careful with her.”

Paddy Power introduced Sassy Diva at 25/1 for the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.