Kahala lunges late to land mares Grade 3

Royal Kahala lunged late to get up in the dying strides and prevail in a cracking finish to the Grade 3 Advent Surety Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown. Heaven Help Us made a bold bid from the front in the two-and-a-half mile contest and had her rivals at work early in the straight.

Kevin Sexton got a great tune from Royal Kahala in the closing stages as the Peter Fahey-trained mare chased down the front-runner and got up close home for a neck success.

The 11/4 winner had been runner-up to Dysart Diamond on her return at Punchestown last month and was recording her third win over hurdles and fourth career victory.

“Going past the stands the first time, the way she was travelling I thought she wanted easier ground to be honest,” said Fahey.

“That's as quick a ground as she'll run on for the rest of the year. She'll be a grand filly next season when she goes over fences, we'll keep her to the mares race this season.

“Next season when she goes over fences I think she'll really come into her own, over two-and-a-half or three miles.

“She's been in brilliant nick and had a great comeback run. I think she'll improve again from today, she can improve on her jumping. At home she's very slick and I think it's the ground.”

Cheltenham is next on the agenda and he added:- “The mares race is just under two-and-a-half and it's further than the novice race.

“That'll be the plan and she'll have a run somewhere before then.

“She was favourite for the novice race last year and pulled up lame. Hopefully all the little niggly things she had last year, we think we have ironed out.

“In fairness to the owners we were never under pressure. We brought her back in after Cheltenham, trained her away and got her back sound and then gave her a summer break.

“I like her, she's just different gravy at home. The more rain that comes between now and Cheltenham the better.”

9/4 favourite Shewearsitwell made a bad mistake at the third flight before crashing out at the next hurdle.