First winner for Gallagher as Backinthere wins

Backinthere recaptured her best form as she overcame a 542 day absence to win the Munster Mares Maiden Hurdle providing her trainer Eamonn Gallagher with his first racecourse success.

Ridden by Adrian Heskin, the 7yo daughter of Flemensfirth won a point-to-point at Ballybunion back in 2010 on her sixth attempt.

She then ran well on a couple of occasions on the track but she lost her form before her long absence.

Sent off at 9/1 (was 14/1 with Paddy Powers this morning) she was fourth at the halfway stage before she made headway to lead before the second last.

She kept on well under pressure on the run-in and held off the challenge of Milestone Miss (20/1) for the double seeking duo of Tim Doyle and Martin Burke by half a length at the line.

The Declan Queally ridden Tell Me Lucy finished a further six and a half lengths back in third at 12/1 while the 11/10 favourite Italian Chorus pulled up injured.

Gallagher who is thirty and trains in Conna, Co Cork said afterwards: "That is my first winner on the track but I have had three or four in point-to-point’s.

"I have two point-to-pointers in at the moment and she is my only one for the track but I would take plenty more!

"She was injured after she finished second to Definite Class at Wexford but if she came back to that form she had her chance. She was entitled to win and she will probably go chasing now.

"She is owned by Vincent Sheehan who is a builder and is from Ballyduff in Co Waterford."

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)