Belle too good for the mares at Thurles

Michael Cullen always does well with the mares in his care (Bella Mana Mou and American Jennie won good prizes for him in recent years) and the Davy Russell-partnered Belle Brook ran out a convincing winner of the Cashel Mares Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The point-to-point winning daughter of Alderbrook, running in the Cullen's own colours, stayed on well up the straight around the bypassed last (four horses departed here on the first circuit) to beat the favourite Sugar Bullet

Cullen said: "We thought she wanted two and a half miles and she'll go for a novice over that trip next."