Du Val justifies Faith of supporters

Faith Du Val justified strong market support as she ran out an easy winner of the opener at Sligo, the Cleveragh Mares Maiden Hurdle.

With some solid bumper form to her name, the Gavin Cromwell trained six-year-old was available at 13/2 this morning but eventually went off the 9/4 second favourite under Darragh O'Keeffe.

Having raced mainly in third, the French bred daughter of No Risk At All improved to lead before the second last and she soon went clear, keeping on well away from the last, coming home fourteen lengths to the good in the colours of owner Olive O'Hara. Hophornbeam (5/1) finished second under Conor Orr for Ciaran Murphy, while Shannon Gray (25/1) was another four and three parts of a length back in third. Donthavetime who was returned the 7/4 favourite, looked booked for the runner-up spot when she fell after the last.

Feidhlim Cunningham, representing Cromwell, said: "She schooled well at home. We thought she had the ability to win a bumper, so we persisted there for a little while and she ran in four bumpers. I'd say it wasn’t a bad bumper the last day at Roscommon (third to Banntown Girl).

"Darragh said her jumping was a big asset to her and that she was slick. He kept it simple on her.

"Hopefully she'll keep improving and she could be a very nice mare. She's pretty versatile as regards ground."

STEWARDS REPORTS

S.F. O'Keeffe, rider of American Avenue trained by Colin Bowe, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung left at the bend past the stands.

P.T. Enright, rider of Rossies Tara (GB) trained by Mark Michael McNiff, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the last hurdle.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan