Prairie Angel and JJ Slevin© Photo Healy Racing
Given a well-judged ride by JJ Slevin, Prairie Angel made the perfect start over flights in the opener at Ballinrobe this evening, the C.J Sheeran Ltd 3yo Maiden Hurdle.
A sister to seven-time winning stable companion Prairie Dancer, the Territories chestnut failed to make an impact in three starts on the level.
Despite not jumping with much fluency, the Joseph O'Brien-trained victor was shaken up in fifth after two out and soon made good headway into third.
Ridden after the last, she came with her effort on the outer from the furlong pole and swept to the front inside the final 50 yards, going on to prevail by half-a-length.
After making much of the running, debutant Ceol Draiochta (14/1) ultimately had to settle for second, losing little in defeat under Kieran Buckley.
There was a further length-and-a-quarter back to Kaptain Bay in third, with this one returned the 15/8 favourite (drifted from 5/4).
"I've done all the schooling on her and she's been pretty good at home. She must have got a bit of a fright early, because she got cautious and was pretty green throughout," Slevin commented.
"She's done well to win in the circumstances and coped with the ground well.
"She was coming home well and staying is very important in these sort of races.
"Her brother Prairie Dancer has been a great servant for the two lads (owners Sean Sweeney and Kieran O'Hare) and if she can do half as much as he did, she'll be a right one.
"She can mix it and is going to be competitively enough handicapped (rated 64) on the Flat, so she might be able to do that job as well."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
