Yeats Mare Provides Connections With Heavenly Success

Heaven Help Us (7m Yeats - Spare The Air, by Trans Island) landed a valuable prize for connections when battling to win the Grade B Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

One of just two horses trained by Paul Hennessy, the J Turner-owned mare gained her first win over fences this season, but boasted Grade 1 form over hurdles. She was ridden to chase the leader by Richard Condon and was travelling well when taking over proceedings at the second last. Clear approaching the final flight, she dug deep to deny a late challenge by Global Equity and prevailed by a neck on the line.

Heaven Help Us may provide Hennessy with a trip to Cheltenham, if her trainer’s plan works out. “She might go for a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown to try and get her into Cheltenham. I’d love to have a runner at the Festival,” he said.

Paul Hennessy also bred his stable star, who earned connections €59,000 on Sunday.