Irish EBF Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

WITH due deference to the powerhouse yards in the country, one suspects most people on course, and those watching on from elsewhere, were pleased to see the two Grade 1 contests on the second day of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival were won by connections not so accustomed to success at this level.

In the case of trainer Colm Murphy, that comment is applicable only to more recent times as he has had plenty of top-class performers in his career, but the victory of Zanoosh (9/2) in the Irish EBF Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle was his first at the highest level since 2011.

The Harzand mare completed a five-timer when Brian Hayes cleverly switched her inside Danny Gilligan’s mount Place De La Nation between the final two flights to avail of the fresher ground available there. Once heading that rival at the last, the Winning Ways Reunion Syndicate’s six-year-old went away to post a length and three-quarter success.

So satisfying

A delighted Murphy said: “She’s answered every question we’ve asked her this year. We still don’t know how good she is.

“She has a lot of ones after her name and she’s similar in that way to the others (Grade 1 winners I’ve had). The hardest part is trying to find these ones, and it’s so satisfying when you do get a nice one.”

When asked if she’d go to Punchestown he replied: “There is every possibility. We’ll see how she comes out of it.” Looking further ahead, he added: “I’ve been talking about mares’ chases all along, she’s been schooled over fences.”