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- Preview fairyhouse 29th May
Preview fairyhouse 29th May
Aidan O'Brien with daughters Ana (centre) and Sarah O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing
Ana O'Brien enjoyed a Fairyhouse winner on her 18th birthday when guiding home her father Aidan's Beyond Brilliance in the Follow Fairyhouse On Twitter Median Auction Maiden.
For an instant in the final furlong, it appeared that the 3-1 favourite was going to get going too late, but she picked up well to pip Duchess Andorra by a neck.
Ana had earlier suffered agonising defeat in the Fairyhouse Racecourse Welcomes Eventers Handicap, despite leading in the closing stages on Pixie Spirit
It was Gary Phillips who denied her, getting a real tune out of Lily's Prince (9-1) in the closing stages to win by half a length.
Ana's brother Joseph suffered a narrow reverse in the Fairyhouse Supporting Tattersalls International Horse Trials and Country Fair Handicap, when his mount Jackie Ellis could not reel in the Colin Keane-ridden 14-1 chance Local Flier < Pearl Earing was made to fight all the way to the line to see off Lady Ultra in the Lyrath Estate Summer Ladies Day 13th July Rated Race.
Lady Ultra set the pace in the six furlong contest and was still in the lead a furlong out, but David Wachman's 8-1 chance finally got the better of the argument under Wayne Lordan, recording a three-quarter-length success.
Lordan made it a double, and eight in a week, when Circling (9-4) held on to win the Bobbyjo Bistro Great Value Packages Maiden.
Newcomer Stella Street produced a strong late surge to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden.
The 20-1 chance travelled well for Chris Hayes, but still had ground to make up when favourite Jack Naylor hit the front a furlong out.
Kevin Prendergast's filly found another gear close home to get up and score by a neck.
Killian Hennessy guided Colla Pier (7-1) to her first win in the Book Your Stag Or Hen Party At Fairyhouse Apprentice Handicap.