Dual purpose rider Daniel King was seen to good effect for the second successive day as Henning got her jumping career off to a winning start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

King got the better of Bill Lee in a tight finish aboard Joupe at the Curragh yesterday afternoon and again earned the plaudits when coming out best in an exciting finish.

The Denis Hogan-trained mare joined the front-running Sainte Dona and Roccos Inspiration at the penultimate flight and there was nothing to separate the trio early on the run-in.

The Rob Hennelly-owned 12/1 chance just proved the stronger in the closing stages to score by a neck from 7/4 joint favourite Sainte Dona with Roccos Inspiration half-a-length back in third.

The other joint favourite Clairmc could find no extra in the straight eventually finishing a distant fifth.

King, who was recording his third winner over jumps and 21st in total, said "She didn't jump great but once she warmed up into it she got better and galloped all the way to the line. The leaders got racing at the top of the hill and I was always confident I would catch them. I bided my time and she jumped the last two well.

"She is tall and is still learning so will come on from that run."

Quotes by Tom Weekes