Cheltenham the long term aim for Rescue Package

Tony Mullins holds Rescue Package in high regard and he’s already dreaming of Cheltenham next March after the grey daughter of Montmartre finished strongly to land the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Mares Hurdle.

The French-bred, who took a bumper at Ballinrobe last summer and subsequently showed promise over hurdles, was patiently ridden here by the trainer’s son Danny who delayed his challenge until the straight.

The five-year-old quickened up nicely after the last to deny Jaime Sommers by three quarters of a length, with the front-running Effernock Fizz a further length and a half back in third.

Tony Mullins said, “The allowances she received made me decide to go for this rather than a maiden. You never know what you will find in a maiden and we met Dolcita last year at Tramore.

“She wanted that run today and I don’t want to bring her back too quick so Galway may come a bit soon.

“I’m thinking of aiming her for the Mares Novice at Cheltenham. I think she’s quite a good mare.

“Stupid little things went wrong with her last year, she scoped badly and went over the top at another point. Everything I did with her just didn’t seem to work out for me.

“Cheltenham is a big call but I’ve always thought she is a cut above what I’ve had in the last few years. I’m going to stay with that train of thought until she proves me wrong.”