In Her Stride puts best foot forward

In Her Stride held off A Shin Impala s late thrust to seal victory in Division One of the seven furlong Big Bad Bob Maiden at Dundalk.

Fran Berry, in the JP McManus colours, hugged the rail in third as Crazy Tornado and Shane Foley set the fractions from Inner Knowing and Leigh Roche.

David Wachman 's In Her Stride improved to challenge Crazy Tornado at the two marker. As the pair settled down for a battle they drew clear of A Shin Impala who had made headway to third.

In Her Stride edged ahead coming to the last furlong and was driven out by Berry to go on and shed her maiden tag. However, A Shin Impala (12/1) picked up really well in the latter stages and rattled home to get to within a neck at the line. This was his debut run for Tommy Stack and Wayne Lordan.

There was a two and a quarter length gap back to 7/4 favourite Crazy Tornado. Another debutant, St Gallen was a market mover during the day from 12/1 to 5/1 before being plunged on at the track from 11/2 to 11/4. He kept on steadily for fourth (half a length off Crazy Tornado) without threatening the front two.

“It's nice to win a maiden with her. It looked the lesser of the two divisions. It was a good opportunity and she took it,” Fran Berry said.

“They went a good gallop all the way and she stuck to her guns well. She'll improve during the winter hopefully as she has a bit of scope.”

Berry heads off to ride in Japan for a couple of months in the new year.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson