Frances Crowley with her daughter Hannah Smullen and Fillusin.© Photo Healy Racing
Hannah Smullen, daughter of trainer Frances Crowley and the late Pat Smullen, rode the first winner of her career when getting back up close home on Fillusin to land the concluding Kilbarry(Ladies Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Tramore.
Having just the seventh ride(one on the flat) of her fledging career, Smullen showed maturity beyond her years, in getting the five-year-old mare up late on to deny the 2/5f Si Se Puede
The latter, a full-sister to Champion Chase winner El Fabiolo, had looked to have matters under control when edging to the front under Jody Townend running down into the dip.
However, Smullen, who had made much of the running up to that point on the Gordon Elliott trained Fillusin, wasn't prepared to give best without a fight.
Urging her mount to find extra on the run-in, Smullen somehow managed to clutch victory from the jaws of defeat, getting on top close home to win by half-a-length.
Hannah Smullen said: "I'm 21 and in college studying Law in Trinity. I ride out for Gordon at weekends and on holidays. Gordon has been very, very good to me. I'm really enjoying riding as an amateur but I'll focus on college as well. That's my sixth ride in bumpers.
"It's brilliant to have mam here this evening. She has been absolutely amazing to me, I owe her the world, she is an unreal woman."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
