Lady comes good over fences

Lough Roe Lady provided Birr trainer Philip Byrne with a welcome change of fortune when taking the Slievenamon Beginners Chase under Andrew McNamara.

Byrne was without a win in nearly 14 months and the 10/1 chance was bridging her own 18-run losing streak stretching back to a previous sole success in a Thurles handicap hurdle in 2012.

It was a typically incident-packed beginners chase not least at the penultimate fence where Coolaghknock Glebe ran out while still in contention.

Lough Roe Lady took over at this point, and kept on best to beat Rafi De Triana by three and three quarter lengths, with Afatcat another eight lengths away in third.

Byrne said, “She’s been running consistently lately. Andy gave her a superb ride and had her where he wanted to be.

“I knew she’d have her day and she deserves it and I wanted to get this win over fences with her as there is no reason why she can’t go back over hurdles.”

Byrne has six in training plus another ten young horses at his base near Birr in Co. Offaly.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes