Instant Tendance gains deserved and poignant win

Odds-on punters made it two from two at Navan this afternoon as Instant Tendance got well on top on the run-in to land the BoyleSports Money Back 2nd To The Favourite Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained mare was gaining a deserved win having been placed on her previous three starts and the 4/6 favourite landed in front at the penultimate hurdle.

Stablemate Lazy Bones briefly threatened between the final two flights before Smiling Bess threw down a challenge at the last.

However, the market leader soon asserted when ridden by Sam Ewing and kept on well to score by five lengths with Lazy Bones the same distance further back in third.

The winner’s task was eased at the start where second favourite Jokers ‘n’ Clowns reared and unseated Keith Donoghue just after flagfall.

A stewards enquiry was called into the starting procedure but the result was confirmed.

Elliott said, "She's tough and honest. On her run in a maiden hurdle here she was probably entitled to win.

“It's great for Caren, she's a big supporter of the yard and that's her first winner since Aidan passed away.

“We'll try and get a bit of black-type with her somewhere. It was a good run today and she's very tough.”

Quotes by Gary Carson