Della Casa Lunga and Phillip Enright in control over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Sam Curling's Della Casa Lunga made amends for a final-flight fall at Naas last month when blitzing her rivals in race two at Leopardstown.
She raced in fourth of the five runners in this €20,000 RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle and jumped into third at the penultimate obstacle.
The five-year-old mare swamped Purse Price and Ideal Du Tabert to lead approaching the home bend and had the field hard at work straightening for home.
She was merely nudged along by Phillip Enright to open a gap on the toiling opposition before the last. The daughter of Champs Elysees was clear at the final hurdle and, despite jumping it slightly to her right, was well in command as she won eased down by six and a-half lengths at 85/140 from Ideal Du Tabert (5/1).
“She's been running well and I'm delighted to get that. She was unlucky the last day,” said Curling.
“It's probably only coming together for her, she had a few hard races in bumpers and she's only just coming back to herself.
“She works like a very good mare and hopefully she'll keep going forward.
“These are great races, with great prize money, and a great job for the likes of her. I'll aim her at the final and might give her a run in between. She's for sale as well.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
