Flemensfirth mare up with the best after G2 win

Knockfierna (6m Flemensfirth-Garden Town, by Un Desperado) proved herself one of the best mares in training with a G2 success at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Karina Healy’s home-bred was winning her fourth consecutive start when seeing off a high-class field to land the G2 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final over two and a half miles under Davy Russell. The progressive Flemensfirth mare was returning after a break of 117 days, having won a G3 novices’ hurdle at Limerick on her last start after Christmas. “She's obviously very good,” winning trainer Charles Byrnes told Press Association Sport. “She tied up badly at Limerick last time but her previous run at Cork was much better and based on that we were hopeful today. It’s unlikely she'll go to Punchestown, and we'll send her over fences next season.”