Still Ciel and Darragh O'Keeffe pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Still Ciel made all in the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle, completing a double for Henry de Bromhead, with Rachael Blackmore again missing this winning ride.
Blackmore is expected to be out of action for a 'few days' after a fall on the gallops, with Darragh O'Keeffe replacing her on this Westerner bay.
The winner of a point-to-point at Boulta last November when in the care of owner Breandan Long, she filled the runner-up spot on her most recent starts at Cork and Killarney respectively.
Available at 2/1 in early shows, the five-year-old eventually went off the clear 4/6 favourite. Pushed along from two out, she was pressed by Beyond Ambitious from the last and just half-a-length separated the pair at the line.
The runner-up was returned at (8/1 from 18s) under Ben Harvey for his grandfather David, with the Gavin Cromwell trained Pachmena (7/1) all of 16-lengths back in third.
"I'm delighted for Breandan (Long, owner/breeder) who has been a great supporter of ours over the last couple of years, de Bromhead, who earlier scored with Secret She Keeps said.
"She is a lovely mare and has been unlucky not to win. It is unfortunate for Rachael but great Darragh was able to step in and he gave her a super ride.
"She is a well-bred mare and will improve plenty still. She has been in a long time and that looked like a tired run today so I think we'll give her a break until the spring. We could bring her back for the mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
