Anna Bunina puts in a super leap at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Anna Bunina s season goes from strength to strength and she delivered again in the featured 45,000 handicap hurdle in Bellewstown.
The Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner (at Ayr in April) was backed from 7/1 to 9/2 favourite and improved to lead two out. She was soon ridden clear by Shane Fitzgerald and sailed in by four and a half lengths. Hidden Land couldn't go with the winner once headed and had to settle for second at 14/1. She was two lengths ahead of The Little Yank (12/1). Rich Belief (8/1) rounded out the placings in this 16-runner contest.
Trainer John McConnell said: "I keep going on about her size but her with top-weight there, unbelievable!
"She won the Scottish Champion Hurdle and people would have thought that would be it for the year. She's after going on and winning a Listed race and then I ran her again. She is much better going left-handed and even now, we were only running her because the owner was back from America. With the top weight we were going 'oh God!' but she was really good.
"Shane gave her a peach of a ride and took his time with her. Her jumping just keeps her there and he's won too far in the end!"
When asked if all roads lead to Ballybrit now (for the €25,000 bonus if she wins the Galway Hurdle), he replied: "I don't know, she is better left-handed so I wouldn't be that keen on it."
