Doyenna and Kieren Buckley take advantage as Peace Party and Eoin Walsh part company© Photo Healy Racing
The Lorna Fowler-trained Doyenna proved tough when grinding out a victory in the Sign Up gavinlynchracing.com Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Peace Party looked set to collect when leading by a couple of lengths down to the last flight in the two-miler but blundered Eoin Walsh out of the saddle.
It was left to The Dasher Conway and Doyenna to battle things out on the run-in with the latter getting on top in the closing stages to record a three-parts-of-a-length victory.
The winner, sent to post 9/4 favourite, was recording her second win over hurdles after a maiden success at Tramore in August.
Fowler said afterwards:- “She's so hardy. She came into the race in brilliant form and she settled today, we put a different bit in her.
“We were caught off guard at Down Royal when she got lit up. The winner was a fair winner but she didn't help herself.
“They went a much stronger pace today and Kieren was very good, he didn't panic. If you have them on their head and try to go early doors you have no chance.
“You just know she's going to give it everything. He reckons he was going to win irrespective of the horse falling but I'd have to watch it back.
“She wants to win and that's the bottom line with her. She really had to try hard today.
“Last time was her first handicap and I'd say she actually learned more at Down Royal than in any of her other runs and it stood to her today.
“She's going to need a break at some point, when the ground goes, but we'll make hay while the sun shines.
“She has an unbelievable pedigree. Valerie and her daughter Diana bred her and to have had three generations, Woodland Opera is her uncle and then Opera Hat is her grand-dam.
“They are going to put her up a bit for this and she's earned a go at black-type now. She can't have any soft in the ground.
“There is the option of travelling to the UK as well and I think there might be a race in Bangor.”
When asked if she could go chasing in time she added:- “She's not very big but there is no reason why she wouldn't. Never say never.”
