Asthuria © Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh got off the mark for the festival when Asthuria ran out a convincing winner of the Alanna Homes Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Champion jockey has endured a somewhat frustrating few days and has been on the wrong side in a few thrilling photo finishes.
There was no mistake this time as the 13/8 favourite bounced out in front and had her rivals on the stretch turning for home in the two-miler.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare gave her backers a slight scare at the last but stayed on well on the run to lead home a one-two-three for the yard.
She scored by five lengths from Pravalaguna with a length-and-a-half further back to Good Thyne Tara
“We've been hitting the crossbar but one or two are starting to go in now so we'll keep our fingers crossed,” said Mullins.
“She gave us a heart attack at the last because she has a habit of lying down, jumping.
“Ruby said he was going to jump out today and be positive and it worked.
“Pravalaguna ran a cracker and I think she's a mare that's going to improve while it was just Good Thyne Tara's third run over hurdles. I think we have three nice mares for next season.
“Ruby was keen for Asthuria to go over fences but we'll see what happens. We've a nice bunch of mares and we'll try and find different targets for them.
“Let's Dance will probably stay over hurdles and they are all aiming for that's mares hurdle at Cheltenham so maybe one or two will go jumping fences then.
“France is a thought for some of them but we'll see, They've probably had hard enough seasons.
“I'll wait until the dust dies down after Punchestown before I make any decisions but I'll probably have a smaller team going to France than before this season.”
On the gap closing Mullins said:- “I'd say Apples Jade might put paid to that but we'll keep going until it's over.”
On tomorrow's Champion Hurdle he added:- “I couldn't be confident the way horses are running this week, we've just got chinned on the line on a few occasions.
“Hopefully they'll run well and they keep running well."
