Johanna Yeats makes the breakthrough

The Michael Cawe Suspended Ceilings Handicap Hurdle saw eight-year-old Johanna Yeats gain a first career success on her twenty-second start.

Runner-up in two of her previous three outings, Ambrose McCurtin kept her close to the pace throughout and she disputed the lead two out. In front at the final flight, she kept on well to score by a length and a quarter from Glenabo Bridge Herculaneum and Flashthelights completed the frame.

Winning trainer John Joe Walsh remarked: “She deserved that. She’d a great run in Naas and a good run in Clonmel before that. I’d say the ground suited her today. She doesn’t like heavy ground.

“I thought the second (Glenabo Bridge) was the danger as I thought we might turn it around at the weights with the horse that beat her at Naas (fourth home Flashthelights).

“She seems to be better this year than last year.”