Gypsy Island, left, comes to collar Annie G© Photo Healy Racing
Gypsy Island returned from a long absence to get off the mark over flights in the Hotel Minella Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary.
Peter Fahey's seven-year-old mare was unbeaten in four bumpers including at Listed and Grade 3 level at Fairyhouse and Punchestown back in 2019.
She had one previous attempt at hurdling when runner-up in a mares' auction maiden hurdle at Navan in November 2018.
She went off at a prohibitive 1/5 to account for her 15 rivals in this two-mile contest.
The Jeremy mare tracked front-running Annie G and looked to have the leader in her sights before two out.
However, she wasn't as fluent as the leader there and soon came off the bridle. Annie G made a bold bid to stretch her before the last, but she was clumsy there and lost momentum enabling Gypsy Island and Mark Walsh to race past her halfway up the run-in.
The favourite won in workmanlike fashion by a length and a half from the 10/3 runner-up. Nextdoortoalice was a further 11 lengths adrift in third at 20/1.
Trainer Peter Fahey said: "I'm delighted with her and fair play to everyone at Martinstown (JP McManus' stud) who gave her the rehab and did everything to get her back.
"She was keen the whole way through the race but at least we've started her off and we'll go from here.
"She had an injury behind and wasn't right when she started back, so we gave her loads of time and in fairness to Frank (Berry), the vets and everyone at Martinstown did a brilliant job.
"She will improve massively from this and I don't know what the plans are - I'll speak to Frank and J.P. and see. I don't think she wants the ground all-out quick, but we'll see how she is in the morning and makes plans. It is brilliant to get today out of the way."
Paddy Power kept Gypsy Island unchanged at 20/1 for the mares' novices' hurdle.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
