Jer's Girl (white face) on her way to victory under Barry Geraghty© Photo Healy Racing
Jer's Girl added to her Grade 1 Fairyhouse gains when again scoring impressively at the top level in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
It looked like we were going to have a good buckle between Thomas Hobson and Gavin Cromwell's Jer’s Girl (very strong 11/8 favourite) with both still shaping well from before the straight.
However the Barry Geraghty-ridden Jer's Girl went into overdrive approaching the last, where she made a slight mistake (she'd made a mistake at the fifth too) to score by ten lengths from O O Seven
The aforementioned Thomas Hobson faded into third, two and a quarter lengths back.
"That's amazing and the atmosphere here is electric," said Cromwell (a winner here yesterday with Elusive Ivy).
"She was very good and Barry said she loved the ground. I was certain she had improved from Fairyhouse. She had strengthened and come in her coat.
"It was a bit of a step into the unknown against the geldings, even though she was getting the weight allowances. She's all heart.
"She might have been a little bit keen early on. I'll have to chat to Barry as I was watching it out on the track and with the light couldn't really see the screen.
"I don't know what the plans are now. I'll have to talk to Frank and JP. She stays two-and-a-half miles and will get three in time. So I'd say she'll go up in trip.
"There are some right mares out there at the minute with Apple's Jade, Vroum Vroum Mag and Annie Power."
It's been a good Festival for J P McManus and Barry Geraghty, Jer's Girl adding to the spoils picked up by Carlingford Lough and Don't Touch It.
B.J. Cooper, rider of A Toi Phil (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was lugging to the right when passing the winning post on the first circuit and then hung badly to the left when taking the next bend.
(GC & EM)
