Cromwell's debutante lands a thriller

The ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle produced a humdinger of a finish with four runners in with every chance inside the final furlong before 11/2 newcomer Me Wee Bonnie Lass pounced late to claim the spoils.

Pushed along in fifth by Sean Flanagan after jumping the last, the daughter of Doyen stayed on well and squeezed through between rivals in the closing stages to claim victory by a head from Bayonetta

The winning four-year-old is trained by Gavin Cromwell for Mark Coleman.

Flanagan said: "I've sat on her a couple of times at home and she is very, very honest and genuine. Jumping was obviously key to her.

"She is still quite green there. They have gone a nice enough gallop and I was kind of happy with where I was, I wasn't going to go wide off the bend and just hoped for a bit of luck and I got it.

"She obviously is a strong stayer and they have gone quick enough. When she met the rising ground, she was only getting into stride.

"If the gap didn't open up, I was a very unlucky loser and, it did, and I'm a lucky winner.

"It is nice, safe, good ground."

Quotes from Michael Graham