Space Tourist, near side, prevails by half a length over stablemate A Penny A Hundred© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins dominated the finish of the mares' beginners' chase at Tramore and it was his Space Tourist who pulled out all the stops to edge stablemate A Penny A Hundred
Space Tourist opened the door to A Penny A Hundred at the second-last fence as she jumped it markedly left. A Penny A Hundred took the invite and soon a narrow advantage, but Space Tourist was up for the battle on the inner.
They were locked together over the last and Space Tourist took a marginal lead in the closing stages, and she saw it out best by half a length for Paul Townend to reward favourite backers at 11/8.
This was a more than promising chasing debut from runner-up A Penny A Hundred (16/5) who had been keeping decent company over hurdles. Costanuci (7/2) was another four and a-quarter lengths away in third.
Mullins said: "There was very close marking going on from the second last home. It was very well fought.
"I'm very happy to get a win over fences with her and she might be a bit better going left-handed I'd say.
I was particularly pleased with the second for her first run over fences. She jumped well and it won't be long before she wins a beginners'."
This was Space Tourist's second crack at fences and she already has three hurdle victories and a bumper success in the book.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
