FOR Bill retained her unbeaten record of five straight wins, which included three bumper contests, at Navan races on Sunday last, where she was most impressive in winning the € 40,000 Listed fillies bumper over 2 miles, under a most magnificent drive by Michael O'Connor from Liscarroll.

The former dual pointto-point winner was tackling her toughest assignment to date, as the fiercly competitive event, attracted nine previous winners.

Confidently ridden close to the pace, she was produced to challenge early in the straight, and hit the front over two from home, from which point their was no danger, as she galloped on strongly in the heavy ground, to win comfortably, in the style of a superstar, where the sky is the limit, for one of the most exciting prospects seen for quite some time.

What a training performance by Kanturk trainer Mick Winters to keep his stable star sweet and fit and well placed with uncanny accuracy during the past twelve months. And what an outstanding rider Michael O'Connor is proving to be, having instilled such great confidence into the mare in all her bumper successes.

She is owned by 83-year old Donie Sheehan, a retired chemist, breeder and former Kerry football selector from Killarney, who has taken enormous pleasure from his stars exploits, and who has been in attendance, at all her victories. Donie had quite an eventful journey getting to Navan, as he first of all travelled from Killarney to Mallow by train, travelled by bus from Mallow to Thurles, took a train from Thurles to Dublin, and finally took a car to Navan racecourse, but all worthwhile as it proved in the end.

- Pat Griffin