Chase The Favourite leads Zuzka (centre) and Spring Hawk over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Chase The Favourite (5/2) recorded her third win in succession at Kilbeggan as she made all to take the Mullingar Mares Novice Hurdle for Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper.
The 7yo daughter of Hubbly Bubbly won her maiden hurdle over the course and distance in late June and followed up in a 2m 6f novice chase late last month.
Back over hurdles this evening she made all but was strongly pressed at the second last where she was not fluent.
She battled on well however and kept on best under pressure on the run-in to score by three parts of a length at the line. Zuzka was sent off the 8/13 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend but she had to settle for second while Spring Hawk was a further length and three parts back in third for Tom McCourt and Tim Carroll.
Winning trainer Dessie Hughes said afterwards: "She is finished now as she's in-foal. We have to stop with her as she is in-foal to Definite Article.
"She has been very good and it's a big advantage here to have the inside as you safe a lot of ground."
The winner was providing Hughes with his eleventh success of the season and moved him up to third in the leading trainer standings.
It was Bryan Cooper's fourteenth win of the season and he remains in sixth place in the leading jockey standings.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
