The grey Princess Zoe winning the Prix du Cadran in 2020© Photo Healy Racing
To a relatively mundane all-hurdles card at Punchestown this afternoon is added no little intrigue by the hurdling debut of Princess Zoe in the mares' maiden at 1.57.
The grey daughter of Jukebox Jury, who carries the colours of crack hurdling mare from yesteryear Grabel, had a stellar season on the level in 2020 when she won five in a row culminating in a memorable triumph under Joey Sheridan in the Prix du Cadran.
The eight-year-old managed just the one success in the last two seasons on the Flat which came in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last April but her five defeats after that, four of them behind outstanding stayer Kyprios, all came at Group One level.
"I liked what I seen, she'll be okay," reported rider Danny Mullins after the mare schooled at the Curragh last Tuesday.
"A bit of experience before Cheltenham (entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle) and, fingers crossed, we'll make it there."
Princess Zoe, trained by Tony Mullins and owned by Paddy Kehoe and Mrs P Crampton, is odds-on for today's race over the Cadran trip of 2m4f with Pink In The Park useful in bumpers and runner-up in both starts over hurdles, looking to be her main rival according to the market.
The ground remains soft with a mainly dry day in store and the inside track is in use on the first circuit only with the runners then finishing on the main straight.
The first of seven races is off at 12.47pm.
