Cromwell and Torrens give McManus a birthday winner at home track Plenty was going to hinge on the jumping down over the final two, as several still held chances going to the penultimate flight in the Grade Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle. Bioluminescence (7/4 second favourite) was excellent with her hurdling and ran out a good winner at Limerick. Simon Torrens did the steering in the J P McManus silks for Gavin Cromwell, and the successful daughter of Walk In The Park put her stamp on proceedings from the last to beat Millstream Lady by three and a quarter lengths. McManus turns 73 today and had an earlier Belclare point to point winner with Pure Steel. Meanwhile Torrens remarked: "It was my first time sitting on her, she is a fine big imposing mare and there is lots to like about her. "The ground is bad enough, we didn't go mad (fast) and didn't get racing until the top of the hill, with everyone sitting watching everyone else. I was anxious to get her rolling as I didn't want to get caught flat-footed and got good jumps at the last two. "By the look of her, you'd say chasing will be her game in time." From Naas Cromwell later reflected: "She's a lovely big mare that I've always thought plenty of. "I know she's six but she's only starting to come to hand and that was an ideal race for her there with the trip. She's going to need a trip in time when she goes over a fence. "She's entered in the Grade One in Fairyhouse and all being well she'll go there." (TW & EM)
