Dha Leath and Ben Coen (far side) win from Chacha Dancer © Photo Healy Racing
Division one of the Yellow Furze Handicap went to Dha Leath (12/1) who benefitted from a strong drive from Ben Coen.
Coen tracked the leaders on the 3-year-old filly, runner-up on three occasions last year, before challenging with two furlongs to race.
Soon in front, Coen kept his mount up to her work to see off persistent rival Chacha Dancer (4/1) by half a length with the 11-year-old maiden Paddytheirishman another two and a half lengths back in third at odds of 100/1.
Dha Leath, rated 76 at the start of the season, was making the breakthrough here off a rating of 59 on her fifteenth start.
Winning trainer Garvan Donnelly said: “She deserved that as she's been knocking on the door and the bit of rain that fell helped as she does like a bit of juice in the ground.
“She's by Mehmas but she stays well and she's tough out. She had dropped to a nice mark.
“She was doing things right as a two-year-old and we thought she wasn't too bad. I thought if she brought anything like that to the races today it would make all the difference. It was a long half furlong at the finish!
“She has a bit of form on the all-weather but I'd say she's probably better off on the grass and maybe she has improved for a little bit of time as well.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
