Cheltenham Festival winner White Noise found life tough under the welter burden of 12st on her seasonal return at Sandown Park, but there was a significant winner of the race.
The daughter of Kingston Hill gave trainers Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls and her connections a moment to remember when beating off Oldschool Outlaw to land the Grade 2 Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March, prior to finishing second at Haydock when last seen.
White Noise was sent off the 5/2 favourite under top weight on seasonal debut in the Oddschecker Mares' Handicap Hurdle but faded into fourth after racing prominently under Tom Bellamy in the early stages.
Victory went to the Lucy Wadham-trained Rialannah (6/1) in the hands of Gavin Sheehan, who was bringing up his 1,000th winner in the saddle.
"It's a big number to get, and I'm very proud," the winning jockey told Racing TV.
"It's nice, I got four winners in Ireland and one in Sweden. But it's a big achievement.
"I've enjoyed it (career) the whole way through. Winners are what everybody strives for, from the donkey derbys to the pony racing, it's been very special.
"There is the odd time I have to remind myself why I do the job, because we spend so much time inside a car and things like that, but go out - enjoy it. And sometimes I do, I do this for a job and I do this to make a living, for the owners, the trainers, the staff and everybody, it is a job, but I have to remind myself to go out and enjoy it.
"It's a brilliant sport and it's brought me a lot of success. I've been very lucky, since linking up with Jamie Snowden, he's got a fantastic team and owners, he's only going one way and that's up.
"I always felt Noel Fehily's best years were his last eight years so hopefully I've got a bit more time yet. I feel like I'm getting better and better - you enjoy it as much as anything, and go for the next thousand!"
🗣️ "I'm very proud!"
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 8, 2026
1,000 winners - well done @GavinSheehan92 👏🎉@rachelcasey11 | @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/t1gquCx9zy
The seven-year-old Rialannah came from the back of the pack, staying on strongly to score by four and a half lengths from Just A Glance. There was just a head to Karoline Banbou (16/1) in third and the market leader finished another three and a quarter lengths further back.
White Noise was pushed out to 100/1 for the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair.
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Sheehan later registered winner number 1,001 aboard 7/4 chance One For Snowy in the concluding Bet At Oddschecker Open NH Flat Race.
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