Determined Ma turns likely defeat into a win

Once Crown Of Gold led from the strong favourite, pace-setting, Churchtown Champ from two out in the Bobbyjo Bistro Great Value Food Maiden Hurdle, it soon looked a case of all over bar the shouting (traded as short as 1.03 'in the run'). However that was without bargaining for the strong finishing effort of eventual winner, Ma Garrett in race two at Fairyhouse.

Bred by Tony Mullins and ridden by his nephew David, for trainer, John Nicholson, Ma Garrett looked held in fourth at the second last.

There was a determination about her effort once she went in pursuit of Crown Of Gold from before the last though, and she got up in the closing stages for a three parts of a length win.

"She scoped badly after her run at Ballinrobe last time (5th when favourite on September 22nd)," divulged Nicholson.

He added: "It's great that David was riding as I've had a long association with the Mullins family going back many years. I bought her from Tony.

"She will run in novice hurdles now. Galloping tracks suit her best, and she loved that ground today."

Ma Garrett is owned by Tom and Betty Gillson from Wicklow.

(AM & EM)