Paradise for favourite backers in the first

"That was good and she did it nicely. We'll see if she is claimed now," said Kate Harrington after her mother Jessica's Escape Paradise justified favouritism under Colm O'Donoghue in the opening St. Patrick's Well Claiming Race at Clonmel.

It was an all-the-way win for the 7/4 shot and the Anamoine Limited-owned three-year-old beat Society Ranger (backed in from around 16s this morning into 7s) by four lengths. Ado McGuinness had the second and third home, Pillar being a further neck back in the bronze medal position.

"She is a lovely filly. She was a bit backward last year and today is the first time she's got her ground," added Miss Harrington.

"Hopefully we'll get another handicap with her. That's the first winner we've had by Elusive Pimpernel. We have a good few in the yard and they are lovely horses."

(GC & EM)