Airlie Beach leads Shattered Love over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Airlie Beach maintained her unbeaten record, as she made it six from six in the Grade 3 EBF Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle.
Successful on her first three starts at Kilbeggan, the Willie Mullins trained six-year-old then won at Galway, before claiming Listed honours on her most recent outing at Gowran.
That win came over two and a half miles, and dropped back to two miles today she was sent off the 4/6 favourite with Ruby Walsh in the saddle.
Sent straight to the front by Walsh, she made all. She was tackled by Shattered Love on the approach to two out, but battled gamely under pressure, going on to see off that rival by half a length.
The runner-up was returned at 9/4 (from 3's) under David Mullins for Gordon Elliott, while Field Robin was thirteen lengths back in third.
Walsh, who was completing a quick double aboard the daughter of Shantou, said afterwards: "It was a good performance giving seven pounds to the second. I suppose we had experience over her as well.
"On that kind of ground around here it was a good performance, it was tough. She battled well from the back of the last, and she'll keep improving I think.
"Dropping back from two and a half to two (miles) nearly exposed her for speed a little bit. Her stamina won it out for her. She was tough from the last, she was tough all the way.
"She's game and probably would appreciate maybe a fraction slower ground. She stays that well and if she did go on slower ground it would be a huge attribute to her. She's tough though. They went a good gallop.
"I got tight to the last two hurdles, I was still on the ground and David (Mullins) was still in the air. If I could have got as good a jump as he got I might have been a little bit more convincing.
"I thought I went a good gallop, although when you look at the replay there is still plenty of them in with a chance coming down the hill, that might tell the story.
"I see me on her wherever Willie sees her!"
Airlie Beach remains unchanged at 8/1 with Paddy Power for the Trull House Stud Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
