Cottesloe Sunshine was the spotlight of a Thurles treble for Joseph O’Brien within the Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle – and a primary winner again from damage for J J Slevin.
The three-1 likelihood had completed a decent third behind the enhancing Hey Sunshine in the same Listed contest final outing however appeared prone to must accept positioned honours once more on this event.
Having taken up the working earlier than the second final, she appeared like a sitting duck as Tim Doyle’s Beauforts Storm got here cruising up alongside her.
Nevertheless, to her immense credit score, Cottesloe Sunshine battled on gamely and received the decision by a brief head.
It was an enormous win for the person on board, out injured since October with a damaged bone in his foot – and he admitted he discovered it robust.
“Sharpness, rusty, leaping, place and every thing – I discovered it harder than regular right now however she is an effective staying kind of mare who tried exhausting and jumped effectively,” stated Slevin.
“She is a hardy woman and when the opposite horse handed me on the final, she caught out her head once more. Joseph is flying and that is unreal.”
He added “I’m fortunate to be driving in any respect, as initially the surgeons informed me it will be a protracted, very long time. That they had even requested had I any rides for Cheltenham (in March), so I replied ‘in all probability none’, after listening to that!
“It’s all right down to Jennifer Pugh and Wayne and Gavin in RACE, who’ve labored unbelievably exhausting to get me right here and it’s all right down to them.
“I can’t stroll however I’m driving one thing like how I all the time rode.”
O’Brien was additionally celebrating when Prairie Dancer (10-1) defied prime weight within the Adare Manor Alternative Handicap Chase and Jeaniemacaroney (6-1) gained the Wishing Everybody A Secure & Pleased Christmas Handicap Hurdle.
Blue Velvet (4-5 favorite) appeared one other above common recruit for Willie Mullins, quickening up in superb fashion to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
The coach stated: “She is a pleasant addition to the mares ranks. She was very inexperienced and lazy, so was studying on the job, and to drag it out once more within the ultimate 100 yards when the opposite horse got here to her was an incredible signal.
“She seems to be like a very nice kind and appears one other one for the DRF mares’ bumper. Hopefully, then she’s going to go throughout the water and to Punchestown.”
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