Our Girl Salley landed the odds in the Tote Pick Six Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse to stretch her winning run to five.
However, the 2-5 favourite didn’t have it all her own way in the Listed contest and was made to work hard by outsider Belle Brook, who battled on gamely after leading briefly two out.
Barry Geraghty kept Prunella Dobbs’ six-year-old up to the job to score by three-quarters of a length, with Lonesome Dove in third.
Dobbs said: “Our Girl Salley didn’t pick up quite as well as she did the last day, but I don’t think Barry was too hard on her. Whether this ground was her ground I’m not sure.
“We’ll move forward now and will aim her at another mares hurdle here in mid-February, while she will be entered in the novice hurdles and the mares hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.”
Punters had their fingers burned in the opening Tote Pick Six Rollover Maiden Hurdle when 4-7 shot Sous Les Cieux was turned over by 33-1 outsider Bayross.
The Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite was not as fluent over the final flight as John Larkin’s challenger, who led two out in the hands of Andrew Lynch and pulled steadily clear to seal success by two and a half lengths.
Larkin said: “I was quite confident over this two and a half miles, and that heavy ground helped make a difference. He has a lovely pedigree and was a nice bit of value for 8,800 euros. He has plenty of novice options in Ireland and if they prove above him, he can travel to Britain.”
Drive On Jim (4-1) completed a hat-trick in the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle under Denis Hogan, who also trains the eight-year-old.
Hogan made his move two from home to challenge Supreme Builder and Lascalahall, with Drive On Jim laying down a strong bid as they jumped the last and responding to hard driving to score by half a length.
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