Millstream Lady Conor McNamara © Photo Healy Racing
Millstream Lady sprang a 16/1 surprise in the first divide of the Kathleen Walsh Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Conor McNamara kicked her on for home straightening up for the second-last flight and she jumped it with a healthy lead.
She really poured it on coming to the last as the margin widened and the five-year-old grey mare ran away with the race by seven and a-half lengths. Rockbrook (22/1) finished second and was three lengths clear of Run Like Fada (10/1).
Trainer Eric McNamara said: "She’s a mare that doesn’t like to be crowded and we were very anxious to make sure she was on the outside and got loads of light today.
“She’s a mare that probably wants three miles and soft ground so we wanted to make plenty of use of her stamina. Conor gave her a fine ride.
“We knew she was fit and well and today was the day if possible.
“The owners are from Adare and Patrickswell.”
This was Millstream Lady's breakthrough success at the seventh time of asking.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
