CO Westmeath handler Heather Kiernan was delighted in more ways than one that the Timmy Love-partnered Cubanera landed the winners of one at Bellugan Park on Sunday.

In claiming this seven-runner race by a neck from the favourite Commanding Spirit, the eight-year-old Milan mare was giving the trainer her third success of the season from just 12 runners (which matched Kiernan’s 2016/17 figures) and did so in a set of colours last worn by her late father, Frankie.

“Cubanera belongs to the unrelated Andrew Kiernan, who also lives outside Mullingar, and last Sunday morning I couldn’t find his colours.

“However, I knew I could put my hand on the old ones which were made in 1972 and which my father wore on so many horses belonging to Andrew including Clonfad who won about 11 point-to-points.

“Andrew is one of my very loyal owners and I am delighted that Cubanera won for him on Sunday. Timmy rode her to win her maiden at Loughrea in October and she has run some good races in defeat since them. I’d love to get more horses but things will probably quieten down from now. I like to break my own horses and get to know them that way.

“It’s not always easy watching other people ride your horses but I had a bad fall in August 2014 which left me in an induced coma for about a month and then I had to do months of rehabilitation. My mother (Ita) didn’t want me race-riding after that but I have such a passion for point-to-pointing that I couldn’t walk away from the sport.”