Lady scores on first start for Byrne Lough Roe Lady ended the winning run of Dont Tell Pa as she took the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle on her first start for trainer Philip Byrne, providing her jockey Davy Russell with a double on the card. The 6yo daughter of Stowaway was previously trained by Thomas O’Neill and making her debut for Philip Byrne this afternoon she was backed from 12/1 into 10/1 on-course (was 16/1 overnight with Paddy Powers). Having run well in a couple of bumpers and hurdles she disappointed on her last start at Sligo in May when finishing a well beaten sixth behind the ill-fated Lough Donnell Mist. Having raced in mid-division for much of the contest she moved into fifth after the third last and came with her challenged two flights from home. She hit the front approaching the last and kept on well under pressure to score by two and a quarter lengths at the line from the 3/1 favourite Dont Tell Pa in second under Jane Mangan for her father Jimmy. The Ross O'Sullivan trained Popmurphy finished a further length back in third under Andrew McNamara at 10/1 while Call Rog completed the placings a further two lengths back in fourth at 8/1 under Mark Walsh for Mouse Morris. Philip Byrne, who trains in Birr, Co Offaly, said afterwards: "Davy gave her a superb ride. He said he would go on the outside for the better ground and I’m delighted for her owners. "She likes the soft ground and she is something to look forward to over the winter. Down the line we will maybe look for blacktype, but we will take it one race at a time. "We trained her to win but we weren’t sure whether she needed the run. She will go for another handicap now at Christmas time. "That is my fourth winner in total. I have had one on the flat and three under national hunt rules." The winner is a full-sister to the Willie Mullins trained Outlander who runs in the bumper at Fairyhouse on Sunday. She is also a full-sister to the smart John Hanlon trained duo of Western Leader and Mart Lane. (Addtional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
