Red-letter day for Hourigan as Pimstrel scores

Laura Hourigan saddled her first winner as a trainer in Galway when 9/1 shot Pimstrel made most of the running in the extended seven furlong handicap.

Mark Enright got him out swiftly from stall 14 and the pair soon picked up the running.

The six-year-old mare, who has a habit of running well fresh, was still powering away approaching the home bend as the field all came off the bridle in behind.

The only challenger racing to the final furlong was Angel's Trumpet but Pimstrel was tough in the final 100 yards as she beat him by a reduced advantage of half a length. Angel's Trumpet was an 8/1 chance and finished a length and a quarter in front of a keeping-on You Owe Me Money (5/2f). Pallasmore Lass rounded out the places in fourth at 12/1.

Hourigan said: "That is great to get and I have the licence since last September. I have three or four Flat horses and am tipping away with them. It's good and I'm enjoying it.

"I know nothing else and it is great to have the place at home. I am in the bottom yard at home as we separate the Flat horses, and I've just started with the Flat at the moment. They all say it is hard work, but I do enjoy it."

She added "my brother Mark picked her (Pimstrel) out in a claimer at Laytown. It didn't happen for Dundalk with her, I put her away and she came back out of the field a different mare.

"The ground was slightly too good for her in Gowran, but she wears her heart on her sleeve. We like Listowel, so I wouldn't complain about having a winner there!

"It is great to have days like this but we are thinking of Henry De Bromhead and his family as well."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes