Housekeeper cleans up in maiden

The Housekeeper took full advantage of the penultimate flight fall of Moonshine Lad to record an ultimately wide margin victory in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle.

Down Royal bumper winner Moonshine Lad had just struck the front when crashing out at the second last, although thankfully Paul Carberry walked away unscathed from the incident.

This left The Housekeeper (16/1) in front and Harry Kelly’s charge soon stretched clear under Mark Enright.

The six-year-old mare, sporting a hood for the first time, stayed on strongly on the run-in to beat Rock High Lady by 15 lengths.

The well-backed 11/4 favourite Red Road found little under pressure from early in the straight and finished a further 11 lengths adrift in third.

Kelly said, “We half expected it but you can’t be too confident as there were a few fancied ones in it. We always thought a lot of her but this is the first year we’ve had a clean run with her as she’s had a few issues.

“She travels unreal but needed two runs to get her to settle and switch off. I’m thrilled and delighted for the owner Tom Hayes. His father Joe, who bred West Tip, has not been too well and hopefully this will give him a good lift.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson