In the driving rain Hope Des Blins galloped her rivals into the ground under Danny Mullins, as she made all in the opener at Sligo, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.

Racing in a clear lead throughout, the John Ryan-trained 5/1 chance had all her rivals in trouble from the second last and was ridden out on the run-in, coming home six-lengths clear of Natural Look (4/1) in second.

Returned the even money favourite, De Lady In Red faded badly from three out and finished a well-beaten fourth.

Third in this very race 12-months ago, Mullins said of the 111-rated victor: "Her Killarney run (third to Captain Conby) was quite decent, that was a good race and we went a good gallop.

"Although it's raining here, the ground will get worse as the day goes on, it's not that bad to start off with out there and she was able to keep up a nice gallop like that.

"She'd had her indifferences making mistakes in the past but when she's going a good gallop throughout the race she tends to jump in a good rhythm, so it was always my plan to make it and if someone wanted to go past her let them do it.

"Her jumping was good everywhere and even when she got under the last, she was clever there and she's learning all the time."

STEWARDS REPORTS

J.W. Kennedy, rider of Shesadream trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped poorly and pulled up.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined De Lady In Red, trained by Barry Connell, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to have poor post-race recovery and an increased respiratory rate.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan