Lady makes all to give Fahey, McDonagh and Reynolds Sligo double

Hazelhatch Lady made every yard of the running to give the winning connections of the previous race a quick double in the Kilcawley Construction Rated Novice Hurdle at Sligo.

Jockey Mark McDonagh sent the six-year-old mare straight to the front from flag fall, quickly building up a big lead on their four rivals.

Coming back to the field at the sixth, as McDonagh got a breather into the grey, the James Andrew Fahey trained runner briefly looked in trouble as Killeemore Lad moved up to dispute two out.

However, the Frank Reynolds owned mare quickened from the front to go a length in front jumping the last and found plenty for pressure on the run-in to record a memorable double for connections.

Mark McDonagh said: "It was similar to the other mare (Glendars Mahler) but the only thing was we were going to make the running on this one.

"I got an easy lead. Cian Quirke (on Killeemore Lad) came to me at the third-last. I still didn't need to commit but it just got her racing a bit which was lovely and she battled it out well to the line.

"She stays further, she won at Roscommon over two miles four, and I'd say she'll be a nice chaser. I'm looking forward to riding her over a fence."

On his double, trainer James Fahey said: "I thought Glendars Mahler was unlucky last year when she fell twice and she turned upside down in Ballinrobe as well. She did everything right today and I'm delighted to get a maiden win with her.

"It’s the first time that Hazelhatch Lady has actually put two runs back to back and she's a very, very good horse on her day when she puts her mind to it."

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan.