Myska takes mares maiden in great style

Myska looks yet another talented filly in the care of champion trainer Willie Mullins after taking the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle in effortless fashion.

The Supreme Horse Racing Club's five-year-old looked a useful sort when successful on debut in a Clonmel bumper last season, and confirmed that potential in this 2m6f event.

Ruby Walsh bided his time on the 4/7 favourite who was pulling double when coming alongside the front-running Princess Lir approaching the last.

The Presenting half-sister to triple bumper winner Daring Carlotta cruised to the front on the run-in, and the winning margin of a length and three quarters bore no relation to her superiority.

There was a 15 lengths gap back to Chapter Two in third. Unfortunately Little Trixie took a fatal fall when close to the pace at the second last.

Mullins said, "That's not her ideal trip and she pulled too hard and was novicey. I'm hoping there's lots of improvement from her over shorter trips and she needed that bit of experience.

"She has a fair engine but I don't know where she'll go next. I'll look for a mares' novice hurdle somewhere."

Walsh said, "She was very green and quite buzzy early on. She has lots of ability and I suppose the only doubt was the trip. She was supposed to run over two miles at Wexford and that was called off but she got home anyway."

(TW & AM)