Yaiza and Darragh O'Keeffe (left) jump the last © Photo Healy Racing
The www.grahamnorris.com Handicap Hurdle went to Yaiza (14/1) who has made no small contribution to Liam Burke’s fine run of form in recent months.
Pushed along disputing third place by Darragh O’Keeffe when making a mistake and pecking on landing two out, the 9-year-old soon recovered his stride and stayed on well to collar the 11/4 favourite Eimear on the run-in.
A length and a quarter was the winning margin at the line, with Southerner (40/1) running a big race after a lay-off to finish third.
It was a first win away from Tramore (three-time winner at that course) for Yaiza who had won over hurdles and fences already this year.
Winning trainer Liam Burke, for whom it was a tenth winner of the season, said: "He is every trainer's dream as he is hardly 16 hands but has some heart. I thought the ground would be totally against him but that has opened up options as it was his first run at three miles.
"Tramore was his track but he (Darragh O’Keeffe) was happy with him today and the ground was deeper than he'd like it.
"He'll get a break when he runs bad and is one of those horses who is not happy when he is outside; we left him off last year and it took ages to get him back again.
"He didn't go into training until he was five and previously had two 'legs' - both of them went one year after the other.
“He won his only run over fences and will go back chasing soon."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
