Mullaghmore Wave, right © Photo Healy Racing
Mullaghmore Wave scooted right away from the field for an authoritative success in the first split of the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle for horses rated 80-95 in Ballinrobe.
The six-year-old mare made smooth progress on the bridle to pick off Chelseas Friend racing to the final obstacle.
She jumped it well and had her rivals toiling in behind. Brian Hayes sent her on and she was clear with a furlong to go. She won impressively, eased down, by 10 lengths.
She didn't go unbacked at 15/2 from 10/1, and available at bigger prices this morning, on this first success. This was the first time a combination of a tongue-strap and cheekpieces were used.
The places were filled by Nuttorridge (11/2) and Charlie Bit Me (17/2) in second and third respectively.
John McConnell said: "I think she was probably flattered. The first-time cheekpieces and the better ground helped. She had form on good ground in point-to-points. I bought her from the point-to-points, I just liked the way she ran and she was plenty green. She is a nice mare that will jump a fence in time.
"Hopefully the handicapper is not too hard on her. We will see what he does but we might end up in Galway yet. She got balloted this morning for Limerick on Thursday, she missed out by two or something. It was the only race I could try and get her into. It's nice to get the win today anyway.
"She will go over hurdles in Galway but I haven't really looked at what's available for her because I didn't think she'd have a high enough rating to get in. She might be close enough to getting in now. Hopefully the handicapper thinks it was a moderate race and will be easy going on us."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
