Thurles report: Ballyshannon Rose continues to bloom

Ballyshannon Rose and Donie McInerney win for trainer Paul Fahey. Picture: Healy Racing

Arguably the most exciting performance on Thursday's card in Thurles came in the opening race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Beginners’ Chase, won by Ballyshannon Rose. Trained by Paul Fahey, she progressed rapidly through last season, winning four times and bringing her hurdling rating from 87 to 139.

A mare of considerable size, she seemed likely to be better over fences if able to return in similar form, and that was just the case as she took a cut at her fences, and readily saw off the opposition to make this winning start over fences. This race should prove to be the start of another productive season for the eight-year-old, which her trainer describes as “very exciting.”