Cuta Des As and Pat Taaffe© Photo Healy Racing
Cuta Des As looks another exciting prospect for champion trainer Willie Mullins after taking the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Mares INH Flat Race in runaway style at Down Royal.
The six-year-old daughter of It’s Gino won a point-to-point last spring for Kevin Ross and was sent off here the 8/13 favourite on her debut under rules.
Pat Taaffe ’s mount made virtually all and after travelling smoothly in front over a quarter of a mile out, was soon ridden clear to beat Sunshine Girl by an easy 13 lengths. Noble Annys was another length back in third.
Taaffe said, ""I was happy with her. She actually did it the hard way there on her own and her ears were pricked the whole way.
"We went slow - the ground is very testing down the back so, once we got to the better ground on top of the hill, I let her bowl away. To be fair to her, I sat into her across the road and she quickened well.
"I'm sure she has a good career ahead of her now over hurdles."
This capped off a memorable day for Mullins who once again took the leading trainer award at the Cheltenham Festival with six winners including a double this afternoon with Lossiemouth and the Gold Cup triumph of Galopin Des Champs
Quotes by Michael Graham
