Hanlon records landmark Grade 1 win with Skyace

Shark Hanlon saddled his first Grade 1 winner as Skyace a 600 pounds purchase at Ascot in 2019, landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse.

The daughter of Westerner has been a real rags to riches story for the Birdinthehand Syndicate winning five races in the past ten months and €120,000 in prize-money.

Jody McGarvey ’s mount quickened up well after the penultimate flight and drew clear along with Gauloise before the last.

Skyace extended her narrow advantage with a better jump at the last and the 4/1 joint favourite kept on gamely to hold off her rival by half a length.

The pair stretched ten lengths clear of Hook Up in third.

Hanlon said, “She’s as tough as nails. She came home out of Cheltenham better than she was before she left. I was afraid of the ones that hadn’t run in Cheltenham rather than the ones that did. It’s great to have one like her.

“Everyone wants to have one Grade 1 winner and for me it’s great. I think it’s great for racing as anyone can see now that you can buy a horse cheaply, get a syndicate together and have some fun.

“The owners are two lads from Dublin, a lad from Wexford and the rest are all from Dubai. There is 100 sitting down today in Dubai for a meal and I’m sure there will be great excitement.

“I thought that she couldn’t get beat. I knew she came home out of Cheltenham very well.”

McGarvey said, "“I was happy all the way and they had to come to get me. Paul (Townend on Gauloise) came to my girths about two out but I knew I’d outstay him.

“When I sent her about her business in fairness she ground it out the whole way to the line.

“It looked like there was going to be a lot of pace on and I knew I’d get the trip well and I just wanted to keep it simple on her. She travelled and jumped and on that bit of better ground they all had to come and catch me.

“She’s hardy out. She thrived the last year. She’s gotten so much stronger. When she first won in Tipperary last summer she was only a narrow little thing.

“Shark gave her a break at the right time and she’s thrived for it. She’s turned into a brilliant racemare. It’s pure fairytale. Every time she kept winning nobody could believe it and everybody kept underestimating her.

“Even when she won in Punchestown I said after it what’s she got to do for everyone to believe how good she is. She’s come here today and she’s proved that she is that good.”