The mare is beginning to get up - Aunt Nora (David Mullins, left) stays on best to beat Queens Wild© Photo Healy Racing
Aunt Nora made it two from two at Thurles, following up on her pre-Christmas handicap win off a mark of 102, to spring a 33/1 surprise in the Grade 2 Ocovango Coolmore National Hunt Sires European Breeders Fund Mares Novice Chase.
This event was supposed to be all about Grade 1 winning hurdler, Bitofapuzzle and for much of the journey things were going to plan for Noel Fehily's mount.
However she'd gotten in close to the last with a circuit to go, and she wasn't so fortunate when doing the same and hitting the third last, dislodging Fehily in the process.
From not long after that Queens Wild looked sure to be the beneficiary of the 30/100 'jolly's' misfortune, but David Mullins had different ideas aboard the Pat Fahy-trained Aunt Nora.
The successful Kayf Tara mare showed great reserves of stamina from the last, to get up and beat Queens Wild by half a length.
"She made mistakes and jumped terribly at Fairyhouse and rather than abuse her he accepted she was beaten and pulled her up. If he had persevered with her she wouldn't have run today but she came out of the race well," reflected Fahy.
"She recovered so quickly that I decided to try get black-type here; I often take the chance and sometimes it suits them.
"Two and a half miles is too short for her and even though the other one (Queens Wild) was well in front at the last, I knew my mare needed three miles. I said she'd stay and she did.
"She'll get a nice recovery from this and we'll look for a nice mares race somewhere next. Small trainers like us rely on fillies and days like this to keep us above water!"
A half-sister to 2004 Pierse Hurdle hero, Dromlease Express, Aunt Nora should make a lovely broodmare in time.
The Stewards requested a report from P.A.Fahy, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Aunt Nora, placed first, as compared with its recent form.
The trainer reported that his charge disappointed on her last start when making a few bad mistakes.
He added that she appeared to lose her confidence and was eventually pulled up. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
(TW & EM)
