Catleen delivers for favourite backers

Favourite backers got it spot on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle as Catleen under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins obliged at the odds of 7/2.

Having just her third start for Willie Mullins (previously trained in Co Antrim by Stuart Crawford) the daughter of Craigsteel recorded her second win in-a-row after scoring last time out at Limerick late last month.

On her first start for Mullins she finished second at Tramore on New Year's Day behind Spring Wine.

Having raced mostly in the mid-division, she made headway after the third last and was third entering the straight. She hit the front before the last and kept on well from there to score by a length and three parts.

The Christy Roche trained 5/1 shot A Country Girl tracked the winner entering the straight but couldn't peg her back on the run-in and had to settle for second under Tony McCoy. Sugar Bullet who led the field approaching the last, plugged on to take third a further two lengths back under Bryan Cooper at 20/1 while Born To Benefit ran a cracker in fourth, just three parts of a length behind at the odds of 33/1 for Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said afterwards: "Ruby said after she won at Limerick that she wanted better ground and he was proved right.

"She carried her nine pounds well (penalty from winning at Limerick) and we will continue with her in handicaps now."

Mullins also talked of Ut De Sivola saying, "He has had his training problems."

It was later reported to the Stewards that he was struck into during the race in his left hind leg.