Statuaire ran out a wide margin winner to make an impressive start for Willie Mullins in the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon.

The French import had been placed in a listed hurdle in her native land back in September 2018 but had pulled up in two starts last year.

She was sent to post the 13/8 favourite on her return to action in the Randox Health Maiden Hurdle and after throwing her head around early on settled in behind leader Showbusiness

The Muhtathir mare cruised into the lead going to the final flight in the two-mile-two contest and Danny Mullins sent her clear after the last.

She stretched further clear up the hill, going on to post a 23-length winning margin over Tecumseh Sherman

Danny Mullins said: "A good winner. The (morning price) favourite (Showbusiness) looked to have decent form coming into the race and I was happy with that performance. It backs up her first run where she was second in a Listed race in France.

"Hopefully she will keep building on that.

"She was a little keen but she hadn't run for the best part of a year and it was a bit of freshness more so than anything else. She galloped when it mattered so that is most important."

And on the ground, he added: "I'd say it's yielding ground, parts of it were a bit slower but I'd say a good 90 per cent of it is yielding."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)