Robin strikes again

Little King Robin continued her fine run with another power-packed front running performance in the Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

Mark Walsh, completing a quick double, bounced out in front on the 4/6 favourite and she opened up a healthy gap after four hurdles in the Listed contest.

The Colin Bowe-trained mare had a reduced advantage turning for home but it was evident that Walsh was only giving her a breather as she quickened up again going to the last.

The daughter of King's Theatre completed her hat-trick with an easy six-and-a-half length success over 40/1 shot Melbourne Lady

“She will go to Down Royal for WKD Hurdle as long as the ground is okay. There is a mares race at Wetherby the same day that she could go for instead,” said Bowe.

"I'm lucky to have her and she's improving like mad. She loves racing. We are lucky to have ground the way it is at the moment.

"Long term we will have to think about the mares race at Cheltenham if she keeps improving."

Walsh added: “She's electric. Her last run and today are her best two runs and she's improving with every run.

“She loves going flat to the boards for as long as she can. For the size of her she wings hurdles – she's deadly.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)