Aidan Howard is enjoying a fine recent spell and the trainer sent out well backed Miss Jabeam to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Dundalk today.

Ridden by Oisin Orr, the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle, backed from 7/1 this morning in to 11/4f, shook off the challenge of chief danger Wild Bob Cat inside the final furlong before scoring a length win over that rival.

Howard's Winter Escape was the trainer's first Graded winner when landing a Grade 3 novice chase at Cork on November 4 and following today's race, he said “the last day the ground turned too slow for her and she couldn’t handle it. To be fair to Robbie Colgan he said to come here and Oisin today jumped her out good and handy and she travelled well.

“She has been growing all season and I’ve given her a bit of time. I’ll probably send her home now for the winter and campaign her over the summer. Five or six is her trip.

“I put the blinkers on just to help her concentrate. She is very honest and it was her first time coming up here.”

Quotes from Alan Magee