Paddys Girl pays way over Christmas

Racing/Cork and Wetherby reports: Dusty Sheehy's Paddys Girl has certainly paid her way over the Christmas period and won her…

Racing/Cork and Wetherby reports: Dusty Sheehy's Paddys Girl has certainly paid her way over the Christmas period and won her second race at Cork yesterday, combined with a further second placing over hurdles.

Previously placed at Limerick on December 27th, she landed a handicap hurdle two days later before adding the McCarthy Insurance Group Mares Handicap Hurdle under Michael Darcy at Cork.

The winner tracked the leaders before making her move to strike the front entering the straight, eventually beating top weight Longueville Quest by two lengths.

A delighted Sheehy later commented: "There was no point leaving her at home when she is in that sort of form." He added: "She has done very well for us over such a short period of time that she definitely deserves a break now. She may revert to chasing again when she returns."

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Paul Carberry missed a winner at Cork yesterday after suffering a minor elbow injury riding out yesterday morning.

The jockey was forced to give up his three rides at the track, including Kanturk Maiden Hurdle winner Sea Skate. He expects to be back in action at Thurles on Thursday.

The opening Ballyclough Maiden Hurdle (Division 1) saw 8 to 13 favourite Ardyne Bride overturned by Andy Slattery's Kefaaf (100 to 30), under the trainer's brother, Willie.

The 95-rated winner was well behind Ardyne Bridge at Thurles in December but appeared a different horse here. Kefaaf chased the leaders before striking the front two out, eventually pulling clear of the odds-on favourite for a comfortable three-length success.

Meanwhile, at Wetherby yesterday Mister McGoldrick capitalised on Well Chief's departure four fences from home to record his sixth course win in the skybet.com Castleford Chase.

The Grade Two contest was rescheduled from last Monday's abandoned meeting and attracted a good field headed by Well Chief, who had finished a highly creditable third to Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown Park last month.

As a result of that effort Martin Pipe's chestnut was sent off the 8 to 13 favourite but things did not go according to plan. Timmy Murphy was niggling at Well Chief leaving the back straight, but he came back on the bridle as he moved into contention turning in, where Kadarann, Armaturk and Mister McGoldrick were vying for the lead.

Then misfortune struck as Well Chief hit the fourth-last hard and slithered on landing, giving Murphy little chance of keeping the partnership intact.

At this point Dominic Elsworth booted the 6 to 1 shot Mister McGoldrick into the lead and the course specialist drew clear over the last three fences to score in great style by 11 lengths.