Sherika (right) challenges Lughnasa (centre) approaching the last© Photo Healy Racing
History repeated itself as Sherika followed up a disappointing effort with a January success at Thurles for the second successive year as the nine-year-old mare took the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Sent off at 16/1 after pulling up at Cork earlier this month, the daughter of Beneficial was produced by Jody McGarbey to head Lughnasa on the run-in.
She kept on well in the closing stages to beat that rival by three quarters of a length. Grange took a heavy fall when staying on into third at the final flight, and that left the way clear for Malt Gem to take the minor honours.
Paurick O’Connor, husband of winning trainer Grainne O’Connor, said “She won here last year having pulled up at Limerick and she’s done the same again this year as she pulled up at Cork last time - so lightening has struck twice.
“All the credit goes to Davy Russell as she wasn’t right the last day and Davy minded her. Today was a nice confidence booster and we’ll go for something similar with her next. She also has a nice chase mark.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
