Sweet Sting loves it in Tipperary

Sweet Sting was produced at the second last to go on and win the three mile handicap hurdle in Tipperary.

Brian Hayes had plenty of horse under him as the pair moved away from that flight and the pair drew a healthy three lengths clear at the last.

She popped it well and eased home by five lengths to the joy of favourite backers who played the 13/8. Rocky's Silver came out best in the race for second at 16/1 by a length from Oh'herewego (12/1).

Sweet Sting was following up on a course and distance victory by three quarters of a length in early October.

Trainer Michael Bowe said: "You can't beat breeding; she is not exactly an oil painting, is a small, simple little mare with crooked front legs. If we put her in the sale as a three-year-old she'd make nothing but people forget it's what is in the heart and in the head that counts.

"It doesn't matter that she has windey action and isn't the biggest as she can still come up with the results.

"She is a serious mare on that ground and jumps like a buck on it and has a lot of reserves. She is improving and hopefully will keep improving.

"She could turn out to be as good as her mother (Sweet Kiln) yet.

"We'll sit at home now and plan another day out and I'm delighted for Brian (Hayes) who rode a brilliant race on her."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes