Little Petuna makes the most of her chance

The defection of the long odds-on, Asthuria, from the Ladbrokes Get On The Grid Mares Maiden Hurdle, saw the contest open up significantly. However, we still had a hot favourite for the two miler, and even money chance Petuna lived up to her billing under Andrew Ring for Maurice Phelan.

Sixty six to one chance Is She Diesel was the one to give Petuna most to do, but in truth there was a gulf between the all-the-way winner and the rest, and she came home eight and a half lengths in front.

Second market choice Poetic Lady (7/4) was six lengths back in third.

"She's small, only 15.1, but has a heart," commented Phelan.

"She's a good filly and may go for a Flat race, maybe a mares maiden around a mile and a half. There could be something for her in Galway but we won't run her too often."

D.N. Russell, rider of Poetic Lady trained by P.J. Colville, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped poorly.

Owing to the low lying sun, the Stewards granted permission for hurdle number two to be omitted from the fourth, fifth and sixth race.

(AM & EM)