THERE were four winners of a €5,000 Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus during March.

The sequence was started by Nun’s Cross who won a tidy sum for Edward and Maria O’Grady when landing a bumper in Clonmel. This daughter of Kalanisi is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner The Real Article, who was also trained by Edward O’Grady.

Willie Mullins saddled Bargy Lady to win a bonus for the Oakroom Racing Club when that Yeats filly captured a maiden hurdle at Navan. This filly is leased from Co Wexford breeder Philip Hore, who is no stranger to breeding top quality stock.

The Oakroom Racing Club are really enjoying Bargy Lady. Club member Rory O’Donnell told us that winning this bonus was like winning two races in one and that he would be encouraged to lease or buy a filly in the future because of it. Tattersalls August Sale graduate Knockraha Pylon bagged the first chase bonus of 2017 when she won the a beginners chase in Thurles for the family of the late Michael O’Donoghue and trainer Adrian Maguire.

St Patrick’s Day proved very exciting for Co Galway owner-breeder James Coen when Dazzling Sarah won the bumper in Down Royal.

Coen is a big advocate of racing fillies having seen Dazzling Sarah’s dam No Stopping Sarah carry his colours to success before retiring her to the covering shed. Coen is now looking forward to running this filly over hurdles and maybe securing another Weatherbys ITBA National Hunt Fillies Bonus.

The scheme came into effect in 2014 and entitles the owner of an eligible filly who wins a mares’ maiden bumper, maiden hurdle, or beginners chase to receive a €5,000 bonus, which is paid directly into their respective HRI account. Details of how to nominate fillies to the scheme are available from the ITBA on (045) 877549.