Evita hits all the right notes to strike gold on debut for Bourke

Trainer Daragh Bourke savoured "one of the good days" as he celebrated his first winner in 331 days when 80-1 shot Evita Du Mesnil conjured a shock result in the 2m handicap hurdle at Hexham.

The six-year-old mare was making her debut for the yard after moving from Richard Newland, where she had remained a maiden over hurdles after seven runs, but Harry Reed rode her confidently to score by half a length from Grand Enterprise.

Bourke, who trains just 12 horses out of his stables in the Scottish Borders, was delighted with her performance and credited the heavy conditions and a recent wind operation for her sudden improvement.