St Maxime and Niall Madden jump the last at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
Edward O’Grady was triple handed in the Parkmore Maiden Hurdle at Galway, and it was his St Maxime who did best when winning at 12/1.
Niall Madden got a lovely run up the inside coming to the last and forged on well round the home bend to fend off a renewed effort from Notimetoserve (6/1) by three parts of a length at the end of two and a quarter miles.
2/1 favourite Reafadda who cut out most of the pace, was third in the 19-runner contest under Pat King. He had been popular with punters having been 7/2 in the morning.
Edward O’Grady commented: “I ran specifically here because her owner Mr Higgins is a director of the racecourse. I rang him yesterday and he was in New Zealand and won’t be home until next Monday, so we had to go ahead without him.
“He’ll be happy with that. She is a home bred and was a bit unlucky not to win her bumper. I’m not sure where we’ll go next.”
St Maxime’s four runs in bumpers had yielded a second, third, fourth, and fifth. She can now add a one to those form figures.
(on course reporting by Donal Murphy)
