Knockieran gets Finn off the cold trainers list

Knockieran followed up on a decent run at Ballinrobe last time out to take the Low Low EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle for her trainer Jimmy Finn with Declan Bates aboard.

The 9yo daughter of Oscar had two wins to her name before today, winning a maiden hurdle at Sligo back in 2007 and a handicap hurdle at Cork in December of 2009 (Jimmy Finn's last track winner).

Since her win in Cork, she had shown very little until her last start at Ballinrobe just last month, where she ran on well to take second behind runaway winner Second Glance.

Sent off at 12/1 today, she raced in rear before improving five out. She then made rapid headway to lead at the third last and went clear into the straight. She wasn't fluent over the second last but stayed on well to score comfortably by six lengths.

The Nina Carberry owned and ridden Jeunopse finished best of the rest back in second at 13/2. Lough Donnell Mist was a further length and a quarter back in third at 14/1 while Get In There completed the placings back in fourth at 8/1, three parts of a length back.

The 7/2 favourite Adropaupep didn’t enjoy her trip to Listowel jumping right throughout before eventually pulling up after the fourth last.

Winning trainer Jimmy Finn said afterwards: "William Larkin who is a vet in Borrisokane and his wife Eithne own her.

"She ran well the last day and she is getting her act together again. She has had trouble with her spine in the past.

"She is only small and will go for another handicap hurdle next. She is already black type placed (third in a Grade C, Handicap Hurdle at Cork in 2009) and she is too small to go chasing with. She will be a nice mare to breed from."

Donal Murphy