Ratoute Yutty takes nice mares prize Ratoute Yutty got her hurdling career off to a great start when readily taking the Tattersalls Ireland Irish EBF Mares Auction Maiden Hurdle at Navan. There was a nice prizefund of €20,000 of offer for this two-mile event which was open to horses bought for €30,000 or less as an unraced three or four-year-old. The well-backed 7/4 joint favourite, who was placed a number of times in bumpers, was prominent throughout and took control in the straight drawing clear before the final flight under Sean Flanagan to score by 13 lengths. Miz Dilleen took the runner-up spot with fellow 50/1 chance another two and a quarter lengths away in third. Davy Russell reported that Ellie Mac hung badly and the 7/4 joint favourite dropped out after jumping significantly right four out and was eventually pulled up in the straight. Winning trainer Robbie McNamara said, "She had some nice form. She's not the quickest mare in the world so bumpers were never going to be her thing. She never got that hard a race, we always looked after her. It was more to give her experience. "This was a nice opportunity, I saw it in the calendar a couple of months ago. I gave her a break and trained her around this. She had a prep run in a bumper two or three weeks ago. "She will be a lot better over three miles, she stays all day. She has a level of ability. She's not going to be a Grade One mare but we'll look at trying to get her black type somewhere down the line. "Today was the plan. I'm not fussy after today. Next year and the year after are what we are training her for to get her black type. She is a valuable enough mare." (MG & AM)
