Rock impresses in mares beginners chase

Carrigmoorna Rock appeared to lose her way after landing a Grade 3 mares hurdle at Leopardstown last winter but she’s right back on song after taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles.

The point-to-point winner was runner-up on her chasing debut under rules at Clonmel back in October, and went one better here with some style.

A mistake by the front-running favourite Uranna at the penultimate fence handed the initiative to the Robert Tyner-trained mare, and she never looked like letting it go.

The 7/4 second favourite kept on well on the run-in for Philip Enright to beat the ‘jolly’ by two and a quarter lengths, with Annamatopoeia a further 21 lengths back in third.

Tyner said, “She didn't do a whole lot out in front but she was helped by the other horse's mistake at the second last.

"After riding in the first race Philip said the ground was very tough and she seemed to travel better when she got a bit of light on the better ground on the outer.

"She's probably the first mare to win three of those €5,000 bonuses (mares' bumper, mares' maiden hurdle and mares' beginners chase) and she could come back here in a fortnight for a winners' race.

"The graded race at Limerick in March is her aim and she also has a preference for nice ground."

(TW & AM)