Joy for punters as Padraig romps home

Padraig's Joy justified favouritism with a convincing victory under Sean Flanagan in the mares beginners chase at Fairyhouse.

The well-backed 11/8 favourite (from 2/1) took control in the straight, and stretched right away before the last to record a facile 17 lengths verdict. Aunt Nora took the runner-up spot in this 2m5f event, with Marira another 15 lengths adrift in third.

Winning trainer Harry Kelly said, "Sean was awesome. She is a mare you need to know as she hits a flat spot and you need to sit on her. Sean is a very underrated jockey.

"She can't handle hilly tracks and couldn't raise a gallop at Downpatrick the last day. She's tiny but has the heart of a lion. I'll probably give her a break as she is too small to handle winter ground.

"The owners are John Palmer, who is my bank manager in Cashel, and Matty Fogarty, a retired school teacher also from Cashel."