Shannon Gray gets her head in front

The 4/1 favourite Shannon Gray got her head in front for the first time in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Gary Noonan produced the daughter of Cloudings to lead two out but she hadn't been the most fluent on the way around and an awkward jump at the last gave the rallying Western Doyen a chance. The latter threw down a strong challenge in the closing stages but was held by a head.

Winning trainer Eoin McCarthy said: "I'm delighted because Mark (Quaid) is into breeding, has the family and her mother. He has a winning mare to go forward with and is from the family of Death Duty.

"She is tough and honest and was unlucky to bump into a well handicapped horse at Downpatrick the last day. Hopefully the handicapper won't be hard on her and we'll hope to squeeze another one with her.

"She might go to England and it is something we're looking into with some of the other good ground horses and she could run in a Class 4 handicap."

Quotes from Tom Weekes