Statuaire returns from a break with a bang in the Royal Bond

Several of them wanted to go faster off Arctic Warrior rsquo;s pace in the Grade One BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, and the one that went fastest when the chips were down was Statuaire (12/1), as she edged a thriller at Fairyhouse.

For Willie and Danny Mullins (2-day whip ban) the victorious French-bred, coming off a 165 day break, is by the same stallion as Envoi Allen, Muhtathir.

Favourite and short head runner-up My Mate Mozzie got the final flight wrong, and it could have went either way at the line as Danny Mullins secured a third Royal Bond. Of course his mother Mags had started the silver medallist on his road to the top with a point-to-point win. Mighty Potter meanwhile, ran encouragingly in third, a length and a quarter back.

Paddy Power go 8/1 first show about Statuaire for the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, whilst she’s 20/1 for the Supreme Novices’. My Mate Mozzie remains at 14/1 for that event.

"I had her entered in the handicap but thought if ever you were going to win a Grade 1, this was your chance and that's why I ran her in it. She can run in a handicap every day of her life but I felt with the experience she had in France before she came here, and the way she jumped and we hadn't asked her many questions and she had won two out of two," said Willie Mullins.

"I thought 'who knows how good she is' and she had got a break and got hugely strong during her break and filled out.

"She improved and a lot of things fell her way. A lot of the runners got racing and too involved too far out which gave Danny a chance to settle his mare and come with one run with her. He timed it to perfection.

"It bodes well for my other novices but she still hadn't done anything wrong and she can't help what she beat before. They mightn't have been great races but she was still able to win them.

"She will go on to Leopardstown for the Grade 1 and you'd have to say the mares' novice at Cheltenham would be the target."

The Stewards reviewed an incident after the last involving Farout ridden by S.F. O'Keeffe, placed fourth and Impervious ridden by B. Hayes, placed fifth, where it appeared there was contact between the two. Having viewed the recording of the incident, the Stewards took no further action.

The Stewards enquired into an incident at approximately the four furlong marker involving Arctic Warrior (GER), ridden by M.P. Walsh, unplaced, Uhtred ridden by Rachael Blackmore, placed sixth and Statuaire (FR), ridden by D.E. Mullins, placed first, where it appeared Artic Warrior ran short of room for a few strides. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. M.P. Walsh stated that it got tight for a few strides. Rachael Blackmore felt it was down to general bunching. D.E. Mullins stated that the horses bunched up just before the turn in and it got a little tight. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards did not apportion blame to any rider and took no further action.

The Stewards interviewed D.E. Mullins, rider of Statuaire (FR), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he had used his whip with excess and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were satisfied that D.E. Mullins was in breach of R10.3(g)(frequency) and considering his record they suspended him for 2 racedays.

(TW & EM)