Irregularheartbeat bounces back to form

Irregularheartbeat was game to the line in the mares' handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse for trainer Seamus Spillane.

Denis O'Regan 's mount tracked Mare Quimby in second in this two mile assignment and she picked the leader off turning for home.

She faced a stern challenge from Getaway Queen at the last but that rival clipped the hurdle. Irregularheartbeat made use of the far rail as she toughed it out inside the final furlong.

She fought her way home and held on from Marvel Fan who put in a late thrust. The 28/1 shot took the honours by a neck from the 10/1 runner-up. Getaway Queen dropped to a close third at 7/1.

The trainer's son Denis Spillane said: “We waited for a bit better ground, she just wasn't handling it all winter.

“The drop back to two miles suited her too. She has too much respect for her fences and jumps them very big, that's why we dropped back to hurdles today.

“We'll pick out another handicap for her and see, the handicapper shouldn't be too hard on her there.

“We'll keep going for a bit as long as the ground isn't firm.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson