Alan Magee
Ladies team up for Milan victory
Owennacurra Milan (light blue) leads over the last for Katie Walsh
© Photo Healy Racing
Girl power won the day as Katie Walsh and Cork trainer Louise Hallahan teamed up to take the Tipperary (Lady Riders) Handicap Hurdle with the well-backed Owennacurra Milan
Available at 100/30 this morning and supported from 11/4 down to 9/4 favourite on track, the seven-year-old was produced with a well-timed challenge by Walsh to lead before the last.
He quickly went clear early on the run-in but then appeared to ease off in the closing stages and only had a length and a half to spare over Benalma (12/1) at the line. Oscar Hill (9/2) did well to finish just a neck further back in third as he was badly hampered by a loose horse before halfway.
Hallahan said, “He was very good in fairness to him. He’s very consistent and will probably go for another handicap now. He’s very versatile trip wise and should get three miles on better ground.”