Harrington off the mark with Jeanne Girl

Jessica Harrington's horses have been in excellent form in recent times and the Champion Hurdle winning trainer landed the opening Castlemartin And La Louviere EBF Fillies Maiden at The Curragh today with Jeanne Girl

Ridden by Niall McCullagh, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was strongly pressed by Sexy Legs in the closing stages but nodded at the right time to score a nose win over that rival.

Afterwards Harrington stated “that's my first winner of the new season and I had two horses beaten short heads already and i was thinking 'oh no not another one!'.

“Niall was blaming himself as he said she was travelling too easily and then hit the front and started to idle.

“She was a bit disappointing at Naas as we thought she'd run well but the education stood to her.

“We think she's smart and she handled the ground grand but we'll get over today before making a plan. Hopefully she continues improving and I imagine the way she moves, she'd like good ground as well.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson