Court gets Mullins back on track

Court Maid provided David Mullins with his first success since returning from injury, as she made all in the Celebrating Women In Racing On International Women's Day Handicap Hurdle.

Mullins fractured his clavicle and thoracic vertebra (T12) after a horror fall at Thurles on October 24th and only returned to the saddle just over a fortnight ago.

An eye-catching third at Fairyhouse on her last start, Court Maid was sent off a 5/1 joint-favourite this afternoon, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

Sent straight to the front, the Tom Mullins (father of the winning rider) trained seven-year-old jumped well throughout. She was pressed on the approach to the second last, but pulled out more when ridden on the run-in, going on to prevail by three parts of a length. Espanito Bello (50s early and returned a 16/1) ran a fine race to finish second under Kevin Brouder for Keith Clarke, while top-weight Aniable Fly (9/1) was another nine lengths back in third. Drop The Anchor was still in with every chance when he crashed out at the second last, while Ificudiwud the other joint-favourite, unseated at the last when beaten in third.

Mullins junior said afterwards: "She's a bit lazy and it's taken him a good while to put the cheek pieces on her!

"She jumped well which is not like her. She's normally back underneath you and running around left and right and missing hurdles and the cheek pieces helped.

"Rory (Larkin) is a very lucky owner for us and she's won five now. She was a cheap enough buy and a lucky owner is just what you need."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee