Quel Reve keeps unbeaten record intact despite scare

Quel Reve had to survive a mistake at the final flight before keeping on well to maintain her perfect record in the opening Tote Always SP Or Better At Kilbeggan Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Easy winner on her racecourse debut in a Tramore bumper back in June, the Willie Mullins trained mare was sent off an odds on favourite to follow up on her first attempt over hurdles.

Having tracked the early leader Limit Long in the initial stages, Danny Mullins went on after jumping two out, as he had plenty of horse underneath him.

With the race looking in safe keeping approaching the last, a mistake suddenly allowed the pursuers back into contention. However, the mare recovered well and only had to be pushed out close home to make it two from two.

Danny Mullins said:- “I'm lucky that I'm riding a lot of good horses and once I keep guiding them around they'll keep winning. The horses are the main part of it.

“The last was the first hurdle that I met on my own and she just didn't quite attack it the way I was hoping she would and she landed on all fours.

“A bit of class got her through, to battle back when the other horse came to her.

“It takes a fair one to win a bumper first time and then back it up again over hurdles. I'm very happy with her and hopefully Willie will find a nice novice now for her.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson