Dinoblue makes winning start over fences

Dinoblue got her chasing career off to the best possible start when making all to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Cork.

The JP McManus owned five-year-old won on her racecourse debut last season, before disappointing when sent off favourite for the Mares Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. Clearly better than her subsequent efforts over flights, she looked a potentially useful recruit to chasing here.

Sent straight into the lead by Luke Dempsey, the Willie Mullins trained mare jumped well in the main, aside from the odd novicey mistake. Her owners second string Roseys Hollow challenged on the approach to the last but the eventual winner pulled out more.

The task of Dinoblue was made easier by the late defection of Telmesomethinggirl

Luke Dempsey, riding just his second winner for Willie Mullins(his first was Killultagh Vic in the 2015 Martin Pipe Hurdle) said; "she was very good, maybe a little brave early on but she warmed into it she was very good. She has done it nicely and picked up nicely from the back of the third-last.

"She is good, has plenty scope and for a big mare she can get in tight too. It is always nice riding any good horse and is grand to be getting the opportunities. J.P. has been very good to me over the years so it is great to ride winners for him."

Paddy Power cut Dinoblue to 8/1(from 16/1) for the Mares Chase at Cheltenham

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes