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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Lovely programme opens up for Jetara

Fri 29th Dec 2023, 16:24

Jetara and Jack Kennedy lead over the final flightJetara and Jack Kennedy lead over the final flight
© Photo Healy Racing

Jetara showed her class in drawing seven-and-a-half-lengths clear in the Grade 3 mares' hurdle at Leopardstown.

There was a long run for home from the usual second last as the final flight was omitted due to low-lying sun in this 2m4f contest, but it didn't inconvenience her as she picked up the lead in jumping it and kept on strongly on the testing ground.

She obliged at 5/2 from runner-up Pink In The Park (28/1). Risk Belle the well backed 13/8 favourite, was another three and a-half lengths back in third.

Jessica Harrington said: "She jumped and settled and he (jockey Jack Kennedy) said he couldn't believe how much she picked up. He thought he had got there plenty soon enough and, when he asked her, he picked up well.

"We are delighted with her.

"She will be better on better ground - the whole family want better ground. She is the only one of them that is happy on that soft ground.

"She will be probably come back here for the novice hurdle in the Dublin Racing Festival. We might as well as she is still a novice. She jumps very slick and they will have to give her 7lb.

"Then we will probably wait for Fairyhouse, which is early this year, for the mares' Grade 1. That will be kind of her programme."

Paddy Power gave Jetara a first show of 16/1 for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.