Favourite Cocohulababy (6/4) won the opening Pat Doyle Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan, but not before giving her many supporters a scare.

At this two mile trip course bumper scorer and former ‘pointer’ Ya Boy Ya not surprisingly tried to get it done from on the pace.

He had his pursuers, including the eventual winner, on the stretch from a fair way out.

However Cocohulababy used her Flat pace in the straight, to find a way past the gallant pace setter.

Riding his third winner Eoin Walsh looked very assured on Cocohulababy, and the Noel Meade runner prevailed in the end by two and three parts of a length. Marine One was three lengths back in third. The same distance behind in fourth then was Jack Hackett

There was no less than forty three lengths and more to the rest.

“I’d say she wants two and a half. She won over seven as a two-year-old and then we had no luck with her as a three-year-old. We train her out of a field now and she’s a lot happier," said Meade.

“We could try her on the Flat again but she definitely wants a trip. It’s a while since we had a winner for Liam (Queally) so that’s nice. She’ll run for another while but she mightn’t go on very heavy ground.”

The Stewards interviewed Mr J.W. Kenny, rider of Ya Boy Ya, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr J.W. Kenny was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency and R10(3)(i) by using his whip without allowing his mount at least three strides to respond. Having taken his previous record into consideration the Stewards suspended Mr J.W. Kenny for 2 racedays.

(AM & EM)