Romella and Darragh O'Keeffe. © Photo Healy Racing
Well backed from as big as 13/2 into 9/4f, the Brendan Walsh trained Romella brought up a personal treble for jockey Darragh O'Keeffe when winning the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle at Thurles.
A three-time victor back in 2021, the now 10-year-old had been running well enough of late to suggest that he could capitalise on a falling mark.
Held up off the pace here as Willywampus and Marlpark went head-to-head out in front, O'Keeffe gradually crept closer on Romella throughout the final circuit.
With Willywampus the first of the leading pair to crack, Romella went in pursuit of Marlpark entering the home straight.
The eventual winner had just put his head in front on the run to the final flight when Marlpark made a mistake which ended any chance that he still possessed.
Outsider Tasmanian Girl flashed home late to take second but Romella had four lengths in hand at the finish.
Brendan Walsh said: "She has been running well but during the summer, when the ground had been well watered, she just stopped - she wants top of the ground.
"She had been in to run at every abandoned meeting here and was then due to be left off but instead we went to Limerick on Tuesday where they watered and it rained. It turned into tacky ground but Riche Deegan (jockey) didn't murder her once she was beaten.
"I said to the owner that we'd bring her today and whatever happens, happens. She is in here again next Thursday and will run if she is ok."
Regarding O'Keeffe, he added "He is great and comes in and rides her. He is local enough to me and when he finishes in Henry De Bromhead's, he comes in a few days a week. He is hard working and Cal Shine (jockey) is also very good with her."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
