O'Sullivan on the mark again aboard Calico

Michael O’Sullivan continued his red-hot winning streak when successful aboard the odds-on Calico in the opening Newtown Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.

The talented 5lb claimer made it eight winners in just over a week when keeping things simple aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained 4/5 favourite who was ending a frustrating sequence of placed efforts.

Calico and chief market rival Heather Bear had the race between them throughout and stretched right away from their rivals on the final circuit.

The Spanish Moon filly proved the stronger from the last to score by half-a-length, with a yawning gap of 33 lengths back to Montys Rock in third.

O’Sullivan said, “She deserved to get her head in front, she has been knocking on the door a long time. The track suited her. Slattery's mare (Heather Bear) was the one to beat and she was alongside me the whole way.

“In fairness to her she went around the bends very well and I didn't pick up my stick, it was just hands and heels to the line and she seemed to be better for it. It's great for the lads, she deserved it.

"She has always ran well, she was always coming there with her chance and jumping but she had just failed to get her head in front before today."

Quotes by Donal Murphy