Scaglietti clears the last under Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Scaglietti was a comfortable winner of the opener at Listowel this afternoon, the Choose Your Horse With BetVictor's Betfinder Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Successful on debut here in a bumper last September, the Willie Mullins trained bay then disappointed in a Listed contest at Gowran.
She bounced back to form when winning on the level at Navan in October, and making her debut over flights today, she was sent off the clear 8/13 favourite.
Settled behind the leaders, the daughter of Beat Hollow came with her challenge on the inner approaching the second last. She was pushed along to lead before the final flight and kept on well from there to score by four and a half lengths. Penny Out (16/1), who was alongside the winner two out, blunder at that flight, and she ultimately had to settle for second under Mikey Hamill for John Kiely.
The Jessica Harrington trained Dandjira was a further five and a half lengths back in third, with this one backed from 20s to 10s on-course.
Mullins said afterwards: "Paul said she was very green early on and she just got better. I only saw the last two hurdles but she looked to be very efficient doing that anyway!
"I'll mix it between flat and hurdle racing for the summer; she has already won on the flat. She has only had one run on the flat but could be a possible for the Amateur Handicap at Galway. She might need to run a few more times.
"She's not one that will be a chaser in the making though!"
STEWARDS REPORTS
B. Hayes, rider of Shuil Le Cheile trained by Eugene M. O'Sullivan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was very green at the start and jumped off keen.
A.W. Short, rider of Esthers Marvel trained by David Kenneth Budds, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount finished lame.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Esthers Marvel, trained by David Kenneth Budds, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
