Mayor's Walk strolls home in the first

A Lingstown winner in March, Mayor's Walk (5/1) scored on her Rules debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Never far from the pace, the hooded daughter of Walk In The Park took over in front from 97-rated Rebel Treaty two out and went away to beat that rival by six and a half lengths. The 4/9 favourite Four Clean Aces jumped poorly and found little when let down in the straight, eventually coming home a well-beaten fourth. 

The winning four-year-old is trained by Henry de Bromhead for Stephen McCarthy. 

Rachael Blackmore, successful aboard de Bromhead's Popova on her only ride on day one of the festival, said: "She won a point-to-point for Colin Bowe and is really nice. She's a lovely mare and hopefully that's just the start of her now.

"She had done a nice bit of work at home but at this time of year they will always improve and she gave me a lovely feel. Her jumping is really good and professional and she was very straightforward for me.

"The hood is on as she can get a bit buzzy without it but as she matures mightn't need it at all some day."

Quotes from Tom Weekes