The Birdie Crowe snaps up a victory

The Birdie Crowe justified market support when getting off the mark for Jessica Harrington in the mares' maiden hurdle at Limerick.

She was backed from 5/4 in the morning down to 8/11f on the off. On her previous appearance, she took second in Roscommon with a reopposing High School Days in third.

Mark Bolger switched his mount out to challenge approaching the second last and she came through to lead narrowly jumping that flight.

The six-year-old readily asserted before the last and jumped it well to win by four lengths from a staying-on Joy's Gift (12/1).

High School Days (2/1) dropped to third on the run-in and was beaten seven and aquarter lengths by the winner.

Mark Bolger said: "She was probably entitled to do it after her run at Roscommon but is a winner of two bumpers, jumps very well and won easy there. I imagine they'll have plenty of fun with her now.

"She has grown since last year, is stronger and a lot more mature and doesn't run as keen. There'll be plenty more to come from her."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes