Outstanding bumper winner for Flemensfirth

17th March 2008

The Tom O’Leary-trained Grancore Girl (5m Flemensfirth-Raise An Ace, by Buckskin) earned rave reviews after her latest success in a Limerick bumper on Saturday, cruising home to an eight-length victory.

The five-year-old, who was bred by Mary O’Connor and sold for 18,000 euros at the 2006 Goffs Land Rover Sale, had scored easily on her previous start in a Clonmel bumper earlier in the month.

"There might not be a better bumper mare in training and she slammed the opposition in the best race of the day, the mares’ bumper," wrote Justin O’Hanlon in the Racing Post. He added: "She picked them off without coming out of second gear as she sauntered home by eight lengths."

Grancore Girl, a full-sister to Willie Mullins’ smart novice hurdler Black Harry, is likely to be finished for this campaign but look out for her when she goes hurdling next season.

"She'll go out to grass now and will come back over hurdles next year," said O’Leary. "I thought Brian (Hayes) gave her a brilliant ride, he was very cool and is very good value for his 7lb claim. She's a simple mare to train, is a full-sister to Black Harry, and should stay well."