Carrigmoorna Queen wins eventful opener

After four winners on the opening day, Willie Mullins picked up where he left off at the Harvest Festival when 6/5 favourite Carrigmoorna Queen landed the mares’ maiden hurdle.

Always prominent, the Galway bumper winner was in front but being pressed by Gaoth Chuil when jumping left and taking the ground of that filly two out. After the latter came down, she was left clear to beat outsiders Kilbunny Pontic and Betty Dutton by two and a half lengths and eight and a half lengths.

Winning rider Paul Townend said: “She probably did most things wrong to be honest. She ran left and right at a lot of hurdles and was quite hard on herself.

“At the second last she just ducked left at the last stride.

“I thought I was getting the better of Mark (Walsh on Gaoth Chuil). I believe they are both alright which is the main thing.

“She will learn a lot from that.”

Quotes from Alan Magee