Eala Beag stays on stoutly to get Stella McGrath off the mark

What a impressive track.

That was the universal reaction to the Pigeon Hill & Carrigtwohill point-to-point committee’s new left-handed course at Ballyvodock which was unveiled for the first time yesterday and on a quite cold afternoon, 18-year-old Stella McGrath left the Midleton venue on excellent terms with herself as she partnered her very first career winner aboard her mother Jacqueline’s Eala Beag in the mares’ winners of two.

The Louis Archdeacon-trained Eala Beag (10/1), who was fitted with cheekpieces, disputed the running virtually throughout with Emilyano until going for home after the third last of the 14 obstacles.