Head Turner uses her pace to win Fairyhouse finale

A daughter of High Chaparral out of a Fasliyev mare was always likely to prove suited by a slow pace, and so it proved as Head Turner took the concluding Racing Again February 24th Novice Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

Given the soft to heavy conditions it wasn't surprising to see riders take things handy, but this was only a two miler and all six were still there with chances turning in.

The Pat Fahy-trained and Roger Loughran-ridden Head Turner quickened well from before the last to defeat Don't Let Go by two and a half lengths.

Despite the small amount of runners a few were backed here, including third home The Ballyboys (3s from 4s on track, and from bigger earlier). The gap to him was three parts of a length.

"I'm delighted with her now. She is jumping fences great and measuring them great," said Fahy.

"Roger was brilliant on her. He was able to put the race to bed and he didn't have to fire her at the last then. He just let her settle and jump it.

"It's great when you can get the odd winner. So many things can happen and you need a bit of luck.

"She popped around. She won over a mile-and-a-half only last summer and that pace is there but you'd be worried would she be able to produce that kind of pace on this kind of ground.

"She'll go on soft, and she's won on soft, but if it's deep and tacky she just wouldn't be able to handle it. Obviously it's loose today.

"She was always going to be a better chaser and that's six races she's won now.

"We'll go for a similar handicap and go back to the mares novices and try and get a bit of black-type. We might try and be back here for the big meeting for something.

"Hopefully she stays sound and healthy."

(GC & EM)