McNamara pair on the mark with Millstream Lady

Millstream Lady defied a market drift (morning 5/1, returned 14s) to win Naas' Full Circle Series At Punchestown Festival 2024 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle today, scoring for father and son, trainer and jockey Eric and Conor McNamara.

Carrying the colours of Adare-based owner Eamon Leahy, the Arctic Cosmos had previously won twice last autumn and having finished second at Limerick during Christmas, today beat 13 rivals when beating runner-up Miss Tempo

Trainer McNamara, who combined with son Conor to win Leopardstown's 2022 Paddy Power Chase with Real Steel, said “Millstream Lady is a game little mare - she’s not over big as you can see but she has plenty of guts.

“That was short of 2m3f and she stays 2m6f well, so we were determined to be reasonably handy the whole way. She also has to be ridden towards the outer as she gets a bit claustrophobic when she goes around the rails.

“I thought Conor gave her a lovely ride and she did it well. We’ll probably keep her now for the Final (of the Full Circle Series) and she might get into it off a light weight.

“She has a great heart and loves soft ground.”

Quotes from Alan Magee