Well Set Up and Ricky Doyle give chase as Lady Breffni tries to recover from a mistake© Photo Healy Racing
Well Set Up bounced back to winning ways when storming home on the run-in to claim the Kerry Group Irish EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle at Limerick.
The Mark Fahey-trained had won at this level in Cork back in December but was below par on her most recent effort at Punchestown.
Tried in first time cheek-pieces today she left that run well behind to record another Grade 3 success.
Having led briefly early she tracked the leaders for most of the two-mile-six contest. Lady Breffni looked the likely winner when taking over from long-time leader Darrens Hope two from home as Well Set Up came under pressure in third.
A mistake at the final flight by Lady Breffni let Well Set Up back in with a chance as she started to stay on and the Gold Well mare grabbed the opportunity.
Ricky Doyle drove his mount into the lead on the run-in and she kept on strongly in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-quarter victory at odds of 4/1. Larquebuse was sent off 6/4 favourite but was beaten a long way from home and trailed in a distant last of the six finishers. She was later found to be lame on her left hind leg.
"Her owner/breeder Jean Corrigan passed a month ago and the whole family would be proud,” said Fahey afterwards.
“Jean used to get great craic out of her and was proud of her. It is a good day for her daughter Emily and her husband Des but it's a pity Jean isn't here.
"Her next plan is to go in-foal but she might go for the 2m4f Grade 1 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse. We'll see what the connections want to do but she has been absolutely brilliant. We are thinking about sending her to Getaway.
"I have five or six horses in training and I have a couple of nice young horses coming along and have some for the flat too."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
