Castle Genie ploughs through the top of the final fence but survives and goes on to score under Phillip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
Castle Genie landed a bit of a gamble as she took the Slievenamon Mares Beginners Chase under Phillip Enright for Paul Cashman.
The 7yo daughter of Beneficial (second winner of the afternoon for that sire after The Conker Club was 12/1 this morning with Paddy Powers but opened on track at just 5/1 and went off at that price.
She won a point-to-point at Bennettsbridge in February of last year and she put in a good effort last time out when finishing just over six lengths third to Speckled Wood in a handicap hurdle over the course earlier this month.
Having raced in third throughout she travelled well into the straight and got a nice run up the inside to lead before the last.
Despite making a mistake there she amazingly lost no momentum and kept on well on the run-in to score by three parts of a length from Gerdalia in second at 8/1 under Martin Ferris for Sean Aherne. Back In A Tic (opened the 4/5 favourite with Paddy Powers this morning but drifted out to 7/4 at the off) finished a short head back in third while the 6/4 favourite Chasing Shadows (was 2/1 this morning with Paddy Powers) finish a disappointing sixteen lengths back in fourth.
Paul Cashman said afterwards: "We were a bit lucky at the last. She probably should have been on the floor.
"She is a summer mare and is very versatile. She will mix it between hurdles and fences now. That’s her trip ideally.
"Neither of the two fancied ones ran up to scratch so the handicapper can’t be too hard on her."
The winner is a full-sister to the decent five time victor Adams Island, who is now trained by Paul Nolan.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
