Improved ground conditions appear the key to Pink Hat who opened her account over hurdles in the Carbon Group Rated Hurdle at Cork.

The easy-to-back 7/2 chance won twice in bumpers last summer at Kilbeggan and Wexford but has struggled to reproduce that form mainly on testing ground since switched to hurdles.

Ruby Walsh, partnering the Presenting mare for the first time on her sixth hurdle start, elected to make the running although his mount appeared to have a major battle on when headed by 9/4 favourite Kandinski three out.

However Willie Mullins’ charge was soon back in front and, despite a far from fluent jump at the last, drew right away on the run-in for the champion jockey to score by seven and a half lengths. Honey Pound was a further eight lengths away in third.

“I’m glad it was a quiet week otherwise Patrick (Mullins) would have got down to ride her (at 11st3lb),” said Walsh afterwards.

(TW & AM)