Double for Slevin as Sweetie romps home

Hello Sweetie recorded her third win of the season at Ballinrobe, as she ran out an easy winner of the Tim Kelly Group Handicap Hurdle.

JJ Slevin was aboard the eight-year-old, and he was completing a double having partnered Spin A Yarn to victory in the opener.

Successful in two handicap chases over the course in May, the Pat Collins trained eight-year-old was then sixth of nine in a Galway Plate Trial at Down Royal.

The daughter of Westerner was most recently fifth of twenty-four over flights at Cork, and she was sent off the 5/2 favourite today (opened 11/4).

Settled behind the leaders, she took closer order from three out and swept to the front after the next.

She went a few lengths clear before the final flight, and kept up the gallop from there, going on to score easily by three and a half lengths. Oskar High ran well to finish second under Andrew Ring for Norman Lee at 20/1 (from 25s), while Alterno (7/1) was four and three parts of a length back in third with Davy Russell aboard for Des McDonogh.

"She's won five now and she's a game little mare," said Collins.

"She'll go for a mares hurdle at Galway if she comes out of this well.

"There was a lot of traffic coming down that road. I mean we left early enough but we were still under a lot of pressure."

STEWARDS REPORTS

D.E. Mullins, rider of Bawntameena trained by William Hayes, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Ashjan (GB), trained by Mark Michael McNiff, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard post race.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Ashjan (GB) trained by Mark Michael McNiff was found to have mucus on its lungs on endoscopic examination.

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy