Jeremys Flame made the most of a drop down in class with an impressive success at Huntingdon. 

The nine-year-old mare worked her way back from the rear of the field to win the Pertemps Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase on January 27, becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the listed feature. 

Under Keith Donoghue, the 3/1 second favourite worked her way into contention before scoring by six-and-a-half lengths. 

Maurice McCabe, of the winning owners Flushfarm Racing Syndicate, said the team booked flights from Northern Ireland on January 27 due to a course inspection. 

“Stephen Oakes (friend and postman) was trying to book the flights and as soon as we got the go-ahead, we just had to book the flights,” he said. 

“These are magic moments and it was worth getting up early for as we might never experience this again. 

“She is a great mare; she just didn’t run her race the last day but we were hopeful she would run better.” 

Although Jeremys Flame was trimmed into 12-1 from 20-1 for the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, her connections admitted an outing there was far from certain. 

McCabe added: “We will leave the final decision up to Gavin (Cromwell, trainer). 

“We could go to Cheltenham but she is a valuable mare already.” 

As for her Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, he believed that the manner of Jeremys Flame’s success was down to everything playing into his hands. 

Donoghue said: “The pace of the race suited her well. 

“We got the tactics wrong the last day and that was probably my fault; I dropped her in last time and she got settled well. 

“She is very versatile ground-wise - she just wouldn’t want it very quick; she is entitled to go to Cheltenham if they want to go.”