Rovetta grabbed her opportunity with both hands when getting a run as first reserve in the Tote Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle at Galway.

Jessica Harrington ended up with two in the race and her other runner Timetoget looked booked for victory when jumping into the lead two from home.

She couldn't hold the late charge of 33/1 shot Rovetta, however, who stormed to the front on the run-in, under Mark Enright, and powered clear for a six-and-half-length victory. Lakemilan came through to take the runner-up spot, three-parts in front of Clementina as Timetoget was relegated to fourth on the line.

“It's her first handicap and we thought quite a lot of her when she came to us. She was bought in Deauville before Christmas, by David Minton, for Kate,” said Harrington.

“We liked her and Kate leased her to the syndicate that HRI set up through Sean O'Brien, the rugby player.

“She had a few runs and ran well but she got kicked at the start on one of them. This was her first handicap and she really appreciated the dig in the ground.

“I've been running her on fairly quick ground and she loved that ground today. She still doesn't jump the greatest but that will come.

“My other horse that was fourth (Timetoget) the ground actually got to her. She's the opposite as she wanted good ground but she ran a great race.”

Mark Enright added:- "Jessie's horses are flying. They are fit and you know when you press the button they will find something.

"She didn't jump that great but every time I got after her she kept picking up, and when she met the rising ground she really picked up. She had a nice jump at the last and put it to bed fairly quickly after that.

"You could ride winners every day of the week but when you ride a winner in Galway everyone sees it. It's a big stage for a lot of us who are not riding at the likes of Cheltenham and Aintree."