Wontbelongnow jumps the last under Brian O'Connell© Photo Healy Racing
Wontbelongnow registered her first career win on the twelfth time of asking as she took the M.D. O’Sheas Maiden Hurdle for trainer John Joe Walsh and jockey Brian O’Connell.
The six-year-old daughter of Presenting had shown a decent level of form in the past, finishing second in two bumpers and a maiden hurdle over three miles at Cork in July of 2012.
She finished a decent third to Realt Den Chathair in a handicap hurdle at Clonmel in September of last year but she then disappointed on her last start, pulling up in the race won by Roadtoabbeyfeale at Limerick in October.
Making her seasonal reappearance this evening she was 10/1 this morning with Paddy Powers but opened on track at just 7/1 and was backed into 11/2 at the off.
Having raced in mid-division for much of the contest, she made headway into sixth at the fourth last flight.
She improved to challenge entering the straight, hitting the front before three out and keeping on well when ridden to score by a comfortable six lengths. Usuel Smurfer (4/1) had to settle for second under Danny Mullins for John 'Shark' Hanlon while Doctor Jim (33/1) ran his best race to date, finishing three parts of a length back in third for trainer, jockey John Cullen. Davy From Milan was sent off the 2/1 favourite for Eoin Doyle and Barry Geraghty but he made a bad mistake at the third.
He was ridden and weakened before the sixth and he pulled up before the eighth flight.
John Joe Walsh said afterwards: "I thought she wouldn't handle the ground as she ran well on good ground before. She is better able to handle soft ground with age.
"We'll go handicapping with her now.
"She is owned by Eamonn Miskella, a retired businessman from Cobh. His brother John won a football All-Ireland for Cork."
The winner was purchased by Walsh for €10,000 at the Goffs Land Rover June National Hunt Sale in 2010.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
