Cheekpieces work a treat on Chiltern

Chiltern Hills (4/1) over turned the odds-on favourite Cailin Annamh (4/5), as she took the Tote Jackpot Mares Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

Owned by the Supreme Horse Racing Club, the six-year-old daughter of Beneficial got off the mark over hurdles on the seventh time of asking, winning a handicap hurdle at Sligo in May.

She then disappointingly pulled up at Listowel in June, when tried over three miles for the first time.

Back over two and a half miles today and fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, she hit the front at the fifth flight and she kept on well in the home straight, seeing off the Robbie Power ridden ‘jolly’ by a length and a half.

Ruby Walsh said afterwards: “We kissed her arse last year but we couldn’t get her off the ground (in regard to her jumping).

“Cheekpieces have made all the difference and she jumped like a buck today.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes