Mrs Mac too strong for younger gals

The Bob Murphy-trained Mrs Mac Veale (5/1) may have had three of her four rivals ahead of her in the betting but she brushed aside such considerations to land the Join The Supporters Club Mares Hurdle at Wexford under Andrew McNamara.

She was giving weight away all round but the daughter of Karinga Bay, the oldest in the line-up, went out and made all.

She may have jumped slightly to her left at times but after being tackled two out she stayed on well on the run-in to see off Solita by four lengths.

The ones most punters favoured, Cloudy Rock and Hell Cat Maggie had to settle for third and fourth places. The latter had seriously damaged her chance by whipping around and losing considerable ground at the start.

Murphy was on lead-up duties so it was left to McNamara to reveal: "She is very genuine to be fair to her.

"She has her own ways a little bit but she is good and tough and she always picks up well.

"We were a little worried about the ground. She did win on soft at Thurles but most of her wins were on good, good to yielding and she handled that well enough.

"If there is another conditions race like that I'd say they won't be afraid of going again." (DM & EM)