The Living Beauty (right) is about to mount a challenge over the last© Photo Healy Racing
The Living Beauty added to her only previous win in a Cork maiden hurdle last year, and landed a gamble into the bargain, with a last gasp victory in the Waterford & Tramore Racecourse 2016 Special Recognition Award Beginners Chase.
The Yeats mare out of Adarma, herself a multiple winner for owner J P McManus and trainer Christy Roche, was available at 14/1 in the morning and further supported on track from 7/1 into 5/1.
Mark Walsh ’s mount was behind about half of her 14 rivals at the second last but really picked up when seeing some daylight, and came home to great effect on the outer from the last.
The five-year-old just got up in the final strides to pip Cahirconree by a short-head, with Call Vinnie only half a length away in third.
Walsh said, "I didn't know whether I'd got up, I never like calling them. I was a bit further back than I wanted, just at the start she was a bit slow away and she ran in snatches a small bit.
"I knew going to the second last that if I winged it I'd win. She just over jumped it a bit and went out on her head. Still going to the last I thought with a good jump I might just get there, and luckily enough I did.
"She loves that heavy ground and it was stopping the horses in front, it was a big help to me. I think that might be her Derby, if she could win another one it would be brilliant. She is out of Adarma so she will be a nice broodmare."
(DM & AM)
