Miss beats Madam in Listowel opener

Despite losing the battle for favouritism to Top Madam Missunited showed her superiority on track as she took the opening race at Listowel this afternoon, the Kingdom Mares Maiden Hurdle over 2m 4f.

Trained by Michael Winters and ridden by Bryan Cooper, the 5yo daughter of Golan was making her debut over hurdles this afternoon having proved very useful in bumpers.

She impressively won the first of two bumpers successes over the course last September before following up at Punchestown in October.

She disappointed in a Listed Mares bumper at Navan in November when sent off the 7/4 favourite and then ran a respectable race to finish eighth of twenty in the Listed Mares bumper at the Aintree Grand National Festival in April.

Having opened on track at 3/1 she was backed into 5/2 at the off behind the 7/4 favourite Top Madam for Donal Coffey and Ruby Walsh.

Missunited made virtually all as she took up the lead after the second flight and asserted at the second last hurdle, shrugging off the challenge of Top Madam to score comfortably by four lengths.

She did make some jump errors during the race but still proved too good for her fellow hurdling debutant Top Madam.

The Vincent Halley trained Misty Weather ran a good race to complete the placings three lengths back in third under Ian Power.

Winning trainer Michael Winters said afterwards: "Bryan gave her a great ride. She was a little bit free but she settled well in front.

"Bryan gave her a bit of breather before the straight to fill up her lungs. She ran in a schooling hurdle around three weeks ago where she finished fourth or fifth but she has really coming into herself since.

"She has showed plenty of stamina and will be a great jumper. She may go for a flat race now or she could come back here in September for a Novice Hurdle."

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes