Miss Augusta (left) and Splashing Out battle out the finish© Photo Healy Racing
Miss Augusta was a plucky winner of the Follow Limerick Races On Twitter Mares Hurdle, just getting the better of 4/5 favourite Splashing Out
Successful on her debut over flights at Galway in October, the Gordon Elliott-trained victor disappointed on recent starts at Thurles and Fairyhouse respectively.
Sent off an easy-to-back 9/2 chance this afternoon (11/8 early), the Well Chosen six-year-old was sent straight to the front by Jack Kennedy.
Pressed approaching the straight, she appeared a sitting duck before the last and was marginally headed on the run-in.
However, she battled back tenaciously under a never-say-die Kennedy ride, getting up in the final strides to prevail by a short head.
The front pair drew seven-lengths clear of Queen Nel (15/8) in third.
"I wasn't sure if we had won but I knew I was definitely getting back at Mark's (Walsh on Splashing Out) horse. Thankfully it worked out," Kennedy reflected.
"All along she had been running in better races and we were disappointed with her but she was down in class today. It was nice for her to do that."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
