Barra banks maiden win at Fairyhouse

Barra opened her account over hurdles at the third time of asking in the Book Easter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle.Gordon Elliott's six-year-old had shown respectable form on her first two starts behind Invitation Only and Joey Sasa.Sent off the 5-4 favourite to make amends under Jack Kennedy, she cruised to the front going down the back straight and the result was never in any doubt.Willie Mullins' Kate Appleby Shoes gave chase but was 12 lengths down at the line.Elliott said: "She took on two good geldings in her last two runs, and she was good there today. She stretched all the way to the line."There is a graded mares novice back here in a few weeks that she may go for. It rode a good race as they were flat out all the way." Ellmarie Holden and Rachael Blackmore teamed up with Ex Patriot to win the Buy Your Great Value Annual Fairyhouse Membership Today Maiden Hurdle. Having shown a decent level of form on the Flat for Ger Lyons, the three-year-old changed hands for 38,000 euros. Everything appeared to be going well for the favourite Mengli Khan, but Ex Patriot made him look decidedly one-paced when scooting past on the run to the last. Mengli Khan actually stuck on gamely to the line, but could only get within a length of the 10-1 winner, who could prove a smart prospect. Holden said: "I'm absolutely thrilled with that. It's his first run for me, and he's been a pure machine at home over hurdles. He got in a bit close to a couple today but he'll learn from that. Rachael gave him a great ride. "He schooled at Thurles last week, and we didn't do too much with him as we knew we were coming here. We'll see how he is in the next few days, but he could go for the Grade One (Spring Hurdle) at Leopardstown on February 12." Nicole's Milan came out best in a pulsating finish to the Madden Raparees GAA Club Fundraising Handicap Hurdle. Favourite Dawn Raider had been produced with what looked a perfectly-timed challenge between the last two flights, and jumped the final obstacle in front. But the 14-1 winner rallied in dramatic style, getting up to seize the spoils by half a length, with another length back to Returntovendor in third, who himself was coming back after being prominent throughout. Winning trainer Sean Aherne said: "I was a bit disappointed with him at Limerick but he didn't handle the ground there and it was a bit better today. He's a tough stayer, and hopefully we will find another race like this for him. "He'll jump a fence some day."