Queen made to work for Sligo win

Queen Alphabet was made to work for her win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, justifying 3/10 favouritism in the process.

Her main rival Ellie Mia was taken out earlier due to the going and the victorious Peter Fahey trained five-year-old was expected to have an easy time of it as a result.

Having raced in second throughout she was ridden to challenge Annagh Haven before the last, and she eventually got the better of that rival on the run-in, scoring by a length and a half at the line under Davy Russell.

The aforementioned Annagh Haven ran a fine race to finish second under Jonathan Burke for Michael Mulvany and she was returned an easy to back 6/1 chance having opened at 10/3 this morning.

Peter Fahey said afterwards: "She made hard work of it but it turned into a sprint and it's hard to be impressive when that happens. It was hard work but she won so it's great.

"She's a grand filly. Two mile three just stretched her the last day. Ground will determine where she goes as she has to have a very good surface to do herself justice.

"There are two races in Galway but it would have to be very quick for her to go there."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson