Influential Lady gaining more followers Influential Lady (13/2) was produced with a perfectly-timed challenge by Cathal Landers to win the Premier County Mares Handicap Hurdle. Up 9lb in the ratings for her win at Gowran Park earlier this month, the 7-year-old (a second winning mare on the card for Doyen after Ballyshannon Rose in the opener) was held up in mid-division until being asked to improve on the approach to the straight. She made good headway after two out under a confident Landers and went past 5/1 joint favourite Farrawaybay on the run-in to score by two and a quarter lengths. Jenny’s Getaway (13/2) and Something Sweet (8/1) completed the placings. Winning owner/trainer Jimmy Barcoe said: “She came out of the last race well and she stays, so the two-mile-seven worked well. “She's thriving on it, thank-God, and I'm lucky to have her. She's handled Navan on winter ground so I think she'll go on softer as well.” Quotes from Gary Carson
