Ashroe Diamond, right, beats Jetara, middle, and Halka Du Tabert© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins' Ashroe Diamond availed of a drop in class to land the Grade 3 Awardsandgifts.ie Solerina Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
She was back in with her own sex after third place finishes in Grade One company at this track behind Marine Nationale and then behind Facile Vega at Leopardstown over Christmas. Halka Du Tabert soon picked up the lead and set the pace over this extended two miles two furlongs.
Ashroe Diamond raced in behind her on the inner and was in a pocket as the race heated up in the straight.
Danny Mullins was able to extricate her before the last and the even-money favourite threw down her challenge on the outer.
She soon led on the run-in and was sent home by a length and a quarter from Jetara who certainly outran her odds of 11/1. Halka Du Tabert gave best in third in the closing stages.
"I knew it was going to be that type of race, it had all the earmarks of that on paper,” jockey Mullins said.
“Even walking in, there was a bit of poker face going on. Davy (Russell on Halka Du Tabert) was trying to make it look like he was dropping in, but I knew he wouldn't let it be too slowly run.
“He (Russell) went a gallop, stacked the traffic, and in fairness my one was good when she put down the head.”
When asked if he thought he was in any trouble two from home he added: “No, it's Fairyhouse with a long straight and plenty of times the lad in front gets caught.”
On the possibility of the novice mares' race at Cheltenham he said: “Her previous form to this was very good and she's won a messy race today. It's a good few weeks between now and Cheltenham and she has plenty of time to get over that.”
This gave Willie Mullins a double after Bronn landed the opening beginners' chase.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
