The grey Hey Whatever and Sam Ewing © Photo Healy Racing
The ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle produced a cracking finish with three of the protagonists in with every chance on the run-in. Hey Whatever (11/4), who had taken a tumble on her previous outing at Cork, was prominent throughout and Sam Ewing sent her on after the second-last.
The daughter of El Kabeir, trained by Gordon Elliott, wasn't foot perfect at the last and was pressed up the hill by She Can Do It and Kilrush Lady but had enough in reserve to hold that pair by half a length and the same.
Ewing, for whom this was an eighth winner since jump racing in Ireland resumed on July 2nd after a two-week break, said: "I rode her last week and I was unlucky falling at the last in Cork when she was coming with a bit of a late run.
"She didn't really get a heavy fall, she winged the last the last day and just landed a bit steep. She's a good jumper.
"I wanted to drive her on plenty early today and she stuck her head out for me.
"She does stay and I kind of gave her a kick from two out because I knew all she would do is stay.
"It is proper good summer ground out there."
Quotes from Michael Graham
