Maughreen shortens for Cheltenham after victorious hurdling debut

Maughreen landed odds of 4/11 in the 50,000 Euro BetVictor (Mares) Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. 

A facile winner of a bumper at this venue just over a year ago, the Closutton Racing Club's six-year-old hadn't been seen since but made light of that absence under Paul Townend. 

The market leader made all and, although novicey at some of her hurdles, went clear before the last and was ridden out in the closing stages to beat the staying-on Dee's Lady by five lengths.

After Karbau in the first, it was a double for Townend and trainer Willie Mullins who said: “I thought it was a huge performance for a mare having only her second run, against the experience that Familiar Dreams (third) had. 

“She went out and made her own running, jumped from hurdle to hurdle. She made one or two little mistakes and got a bit close at the last but Paul was happy to let her fiddle that. She learned. 

“I’m not sure we’ll have any more chances to give her a run between now and Cheltenham, we’ll see. Looking at that, I don’t think she’ll need one. 

“She should improve, I’m hoping she’ll improve from that. 

“She took a blow and she was idling. I was getting a bit worried that the other mare was closing down quickly on her but Paul said once she heard the other mare, she just took off again. 

“It was a very pleasing first run over hurdles.

“With the method of her jumping, dropping back in trip wouldn’t be any trouble to her.”  

Paddy Power shortened the winner from 4/1 fav into 3/1 fav for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

Quotes from Gary Carson