Monterg appreciates step back in trip

French import Valyssa Monterg got off the mark at the second attempt for Willie Mullins when justifying odds of 1/2 in the opening mares maiden hurdle at Tramore.

The five-year-old daughter of Network won three bumpers in her native land but could only manage third on her debut for present connections over 2m6f at Thurles last month.

However she put that right when dropped back to two miles here, landing in front after a fine jump at the last and drew clear on the run-in to beat the front-running Mystic Lass by four and a half lengths. Silver Sally was being pushed along in third spot when stumbling on the downhill run approaching two out and unshipped Andrew Lynch. Both horse and rider appeared fine afterwards.

This left Barbalicious to come home in third, a further 16 lengths adrift.

Robbie Moran was given a three-day suspension after weighing in 2lb overweight on fourth-placed Snaidhm

Mullins said, "Bringing her back in trip and the change of tactics made the difference. We will probably keep her more to that trip in future.

"I would prefer better ground than that for her but we aren't going to get much nicer ground until the spring. Hopefully she will improve away."

Walsh said, "I got things a bit wrong on her at Thurles. I rode her much differently today, she stayed on well and she had a bit more up her sleeve."

(DM & AM)