Keppols Queen and Mark Bolger© Photo Healy Racing
Keppols Queen (14/1, Mark Bolger up) led home a one, two for Jessica Harrington when beating Rock On The Moor (5/1, Robbie Power in the saddle) by eleven lengths in the Grade 3 Willis European Breeders Fund Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Keppols Queen now gets a 20/1 first quote from Paddy Power for the Olbg Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham, after her convincing defeat of six rivals in this two and a half miler.
Front-runner Morning Run lost her unbeaten record as Keppols Queen struck for home from the penultimate flight.
Into the straight it was apparent that 9/10 shot Morning Run had no more left to offer.
The 241 day absent Rock On The Moor was well-held when slow at the last but she still had thirteen lengths in hand of third placer Morning Run at the line.
"She was absolutely brilliant and I think she likes small fields," surmised Mrs Harrington.
"She has run in a couple of handicaps this year and she just hasn't enjoyed it at all. I thought on ratings she was way out of it but she was race fit.
"Rock On The Moor ran brilliantly but she needed it. She was meant to run twice in Clonmel but it was cancelled and then when they did run it it was too close to this race so she came here without a run.
"She was back to form. Her form tailed off a bit last year and she was never the same after the fall at Fairyhouse. She's still jumping a bit big but she's getting there.
"I'm delighted to see Mark get a winner over Christmas."
On St Stephen’s Day disappointment Ttebbob the Moone handler said: "He seems fine. He cantered this morning and is in great form. We live to fight another day."
(GC & EM)
