Eve's Hope a welcome winner for Quigley There was a 20/1 surprise in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel when Eve's Hope ran away from her rivals. James Smith's mount travelled kindly in a close third over three out just behind Polly Poppins and Finnicky Filly. She readily went on over a quarter of a mile from home and she was still tanking along for Smith as she asserted between the final two obstacles. She popped the last and was pushed out to account for a keeping-on Giant Haystacks (4/6f) by two and a-quarter lengths. Ballinoe Blaze made late headway for third, some five lengths further back, at 18/1. Mark Quigley said: "We had her operated for her wind and (she) has improved a lot from it. "We always thought a lot of her, but had been disappointing on her last couple of runs. She always worked well at home, but at Cork the last day she didn't get home over 2m4f. "He (Smith) said she idled when she hit the front and hopefully she can improve from that. There's a race for her at Limerick over Christmas next. "I bought her as a foal for two grand and has won a pot today. I'm a farmer, train for a few friends of mine and have 12 or 13 in." Quigley's last winner was with Kilna Shane at Downpatrick in May 2016. He's had 41 runners since then. Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
