Anna stays on strongly in mares maiden Annamatopoeia showed her second (at 50/1) to Sheamus at Fairyhouse earlier this month was no fluke when taking the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle in convincing fashion. Valyssa Monterg, winner of three bumpers in France, was a warm order (4/9 favourite) to make a successful Irish debut but Rich Ricci’s purchase could make little impact in the straight finishing a soundly beaten third. Trained in Duncormick, Co. Wexford by Brian Jordan, the Luso mare led early in the straight, and asserted before the last under Andrew Lynch to beat Pros ‘N’ Cons by six and a half lengths. The hot favourite was a further nine lengths back. Jordan said, “"My horses were sick when she ran in her bumper and that run made her look bad. But she won her point-to-point maiden on her second run and then beat the boys handy on her third start on a good course (Lingstown). "She'll go for a winners' of one at Christmas time next." (TW & AM)
