Ruby Walsh and Limini© Photo Healy Racing
Limini continued a tremendous week for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh by easily winning the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Having only her third race over jumps, the five-year-old toyed with the opposition as she completed a treble on the day for the team.
Walsh coaxed her to the front at the last and sealed the newest race of the Festival in a matter of strides.
Limini (8-11 favourite) powered up the hill to strike by four and a half lengths from Dusky Legend with Bloody Mary third, as Mullins and Walsh secured their seventh success of the week.
Walsh said: "She's a little gem. She jumped like a buck. She's a good filly."
Of his alliance with Mullins, Walsh said: "It's different for me nowadays - I've become very much part of the team and we all work for a genius."
Walsh went on: "Another great day. She was given as the banker a long time ago. She's a very talented filly, all we had to do was iron out her jumping but she schooled really well the last fortnight, very slick.
"She's a high-class filly. There was never a moment's worry. She travelled well and jumped well. I'd imagine there's a big Flat race in her off 89. She's deadly. She's a good filly, if she'd got beat it wouldn't have made sense as she's been working with some good horses.
"Stamina wasn't an issue, she'd won over two miles, two. We told everyone for the last six weeks and she was just a shade of odds-on."
Mullins said: "We couldn't believe we could buy her with just one bid at the sales, a mare with her potential.
"She was very novicey on her first run but every time she worked she showed how good she was and her jumping improved each time we schooled her and for a novice having just her third run, she was very good today. It looked like she liked the better ground.
"She's got a nice Flat mark and the Ascot Stakes would look a target, however, we will look at Liverpool, Punchestown or maybe both depending how she is. She's plenty of stamina and lots of speed."
