'She did it in great style' - dominant St Irene gives Nick Scholfield his first winner as a trainer

Nick Scholfield celebrated the first winner of his training career when St Irene justified favouritism in the 1m7f mares’ maiden hurdle.

The retired Grade 1-winning jockey took out a licence at the start of the season and delivered his first success with his 13th runner.

St Irene had been Scholfield’s first runner two weeks ago and came within two and a quarter lengths of giving him the dream start. Returned to the track, she recorded a commanding 13-length success, making all under Jack Quinlan.

“It’s fantastic to get the first one on the board,” said Scholfield. “It was nice to do it with St Irene too, who is a fantastic mare and she did it in great style.

“Jack was really happy with her. She just pricked her ears down the home straight and looked like she enjoyed herself. She jumped brilliantly and it’s been a super day all round.”

St Irene’s success came in a Herring Queen Mares’ Novices' Hurdle series qualifier, and Scholfield added: “There’s no fixed plan, but we’ll have an eye on one of the finals in the spring.”

Burke injured in fall

St Irene’s race, the second on the card, had been delayed by 50 minutes following a fall in the opening 2m4f handicap hurdle.

Danzini came down at the seventh hurdle, resulting in amateur rider Louis Burke requiring medical attention. The air ambulance was called but not needed, as Burke was taken to hospital in a standard ambulance.

His father, and Danzini's trainer, Keiran Burke, said: “Louis has fractured a couple of vertebrae in his back. It’s nothing really serious, he’s just very sore. He won’t need surgery and it’s just going to take time for him to recover.”

Honeyball one-two

Anthony Honeyball trained the first two home in the 1m7f bumper, with the Rex Dingle-ridden Bailly's Comet finishing just a neck in front of Champ Kabai, partnered by Sean Houlihan.

Read more here

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