Donal Murphy
Four in-a-row for Missunited
Missunited is driven out by Niall Kelly to beat Saint Gervais & Memories Of Milan
© Photo Healy Racing
Missunited (11/8 favourite) recorded her fourth success in-a-row as she took the Listowel Races Supporters Club Slan Abhaile for trainer Mick Winters with Niall Kelly in the saddle.
The 5yo daughter of Golan was just beaten at Leopardstown in July in a flat maiden over 1m 6f but since that she now won three on the level and a hurdle at Galway last time out.
Prominent throughout today she hit the front approaching the straight but was soon pressed by both Saint Gervais and Memories Of Milan
However she should her toughness and stayed on well under pressure in the final furlong to score by a length and three parts.
The John Kiely trained Saint Gervais had to settle for second under Derek O'Connor at the odds of 10/1 while Memories Of Milan ran a cracker to finish just a length and a half back in third at 33/1 under Richie Harding for John Queally.
The front three with twenty lengths clear of the fourth who was He’llberemembered while the 6/4 second favourite Tarla disappointingly pulled up under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
Winning trainer Mick Winters said afterwards: "She is in as good a form as ever she was. She was really pulling us around the parade ring.
"Niall gave her a great ride. She was a little bit unlucky at Leopardstown and it's nice to give someone another chance after making a mistake.
"She will go for the Cesarewitch now and probably won't go up much for that win so there is no reason not to go for it.
"She probably wasn’t in love with the ground but she has loads of stamina.
"Since Galway we have been walking on cloud nine and even the best dressed lady wore purple yesterday, I’m even claiming that one, I’ve set a trend! (referring to the purple pants he wore the day Rebel Fitz won the Galway Hurdle)."
Winters went on to talk about Rebel Fitz saying: "He is in good form and he will run at Tipperary next."
(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)