Brandy Love wins readily on hurdles bow

The 4/5 favourite Brandy Love was a ready winner of the Extra Places Everyday At BetVictor Mares Maiden Hurdle to give Willie Mullins a double on the card.

As he had done on the stable's earlier winner Hawai Games, Paul Townend sent his mount straight to the front and, despite guessing at one or two of the obstacles, the daughter of Jet Away jumped well in the main and asserted from the second-last to beat 66/1 chance Limerick Lace by ten lengths with Broomfield Hall (8/1) a further half a length back in third.

Like Routine Excellence in the previous contest, Brandy Love won her only start in point-to-points for Colin Bowe last year after which she was bought by owner Mike Grech for £200,000.

She won on bumper debut for Willie Mullins last term before finishing third to stablemate Grangee in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Paddy Power cut her from 16/1 into 8/1 for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.

"She was a point winner, she jumps and gallops," said Townend.

“She had a blow there but she was pretty keen the whole way. She went around the bend to pull up so she's very tough.

“I'm sure she'll have a nice future, she had good bumper form. She enjoys jumping, the way she jumped hurdles there you'd know she had run in a point-to-point. She'll be good fun.”

Quotes from Gary Carson