French import Marigold won her second race from just three starts for her new trainer Willie Mullins when swooping late for a 14-1 victory in the featured Guinness Handicap at Galway last evening.
Jockey Niall McCullagh was winning this Friday night feature for the fourth time as the daughter of Marju got up in the shadow of the post to land the winner's prize of €39,000 by a head from Hat Or Halo.
"I nearly didn't run her as she didn't scope clear earlier in the week and then we had transport difficulties getting her here. But it has worked out well for us," said Mullins, who intends to switch the four-year-old to hurdles later in the year.
In the preceding Tony O'Malley Memorial Handicap Chase 9-1 chance Donadino compensated for a recent trip to Market Rasen, where he was unsuited by the soft ground, as he came back to winning form for Charlie Swan.
"David Casey gave this horse a super ride. The better ground here was a big help and he finished better than I expected up hill to the post," remarked Swan, who indicated that the horse will probably be transferred to Jackdaws Castle to be trained by Jonjo O'Neill.
Today's meeting at Thirsk has received the go-ahead following an inspection yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday's meeting was abandoned due to a partly waterlogged track following 71mm of rain in the previous 24 hours.
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