Mag continues to impress at Clonmel Vroum Vroum Mag maintained her unbeaten record for present connections when making a successful switch to hurdles at Clonmel in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle. The six-year-old French-bred had won all six previous chase starts without being asked a serious question since arriving from her native land, and again scored in effortless fashion. Early offers of 1/9 this morning were soon well taken as Rich and Sussanah Ricci’s mare went off a 1/16 chance, and Ruby Walsh hardly moved a muscle as she asserted from the penultimate flight. Completing a quick double on the card for champion trainer Willie Mullins, she stretched clear with a three-length margin over Mrs Mac Veale bearing no relation to her superiority. Thanks For Tea was a further nine lengths adrift in third. Mullins said, “She did what I hoped she would do. There is a mares’ race at Huntington next month but it may come too soon. “There is a big possibility that she could go for the mares hurdle at Cheltenham if for any reason Annie Power doesn’t make it. It’s in the back of our minds the whole time. “This was a good opportunity that we had to take and it gives options staying over hurdles. Otherwise we would have to take on Grade 1 horses over fences. These are easier options for the time being.” Paddy Power left her unchanged at 10/1 for the Ryanair Chase. (TW & AM)
