Mrs Milner (Bryan Cooper) reaches for the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Festival winner Mrs Milner returned to action at Limerick today as the Paul Nolan-trained mare landed the Listed Irish EBF Cailin Alainn Mares Hurdle under jockey Bryan Cooper.
Last seen when winning the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March, the daughter of Flemensfirth missed a Grade 1 Punchestown engagement due to a stone bruise in April and today returned following a 206 days break.
Jockey Cooper chased the leaders on the six year old who led approaching the second last flight and while she reached for the final flight, stayed on well to beat No Memory by a length and a half.
Nolan later commented: "She was a little bit fresh and got upset in the parade ring and you'd always be hoping you had them ready, especially with the ground being more testing.
"Bryan said he couldn't get her to shorten (her stride) and she came up outside the wings at the last. She got an awful fall at Leopardstown doing that and came up a little bit silly again today, but momentum got her over it.
"We have her back in action, she'll stay over hurdles and I genuinely think she has improved. If she improves, she has the Stayers Hurdle option and while I think she has improved, she needs to continue stepping up to reach a higher level."
