Nothing lucky about this Mullins double

It wasn't easy for Beluckyagain (Ruby Walsh) but she managed to justify odds of 8/13 in the www.fairyhouse.ie For Special Offers Mares Maiden Hurdle to bring up a double for Willie Mullins.

Walsh, aboard Closutton runner-up Adriana Des Mottes in the opening Grade 2 juvenile hurdle behind stable companion Abbyssial would likely have preferred to be travelling sweeter on Beluckyagain as they approached the business end of the two miler. Ellie Mia was still going well under Andrew Lynch in the straight but the 'jolly' got there from before the last. Ellie Mia wasn't great here and she eventually faded into fourth. Circe's Island and Cinder Rua finished off okay on the run-in, for the second and third spots, but they were two and a half lengths and three and a quarter lengths adrift of Beluckyagain at the line.

Mullins explained: "She's a tough mare. She does nothing fast or flashy and she's the same at home.

"When push comes to shove she's dour though and she gallops.

"We'll go out in trip with her, she looks the type to need a trip.

"I would have said that she was a two and a half mile mare in the first place so the fact that she was able to win over two here pleases me.

"Hopefully she could take on better company when she goes up in trip." (GC & EM)