Muthaza eases home in Festival opener

Muthaza readily reeled in front-running Cable for an easy victory in the opening race of the Galway Festival - the extended two mile novice hurdle.

Cable set off in front and quickly opened up a clear lead on his rivals. Miss Youngs fell at the first while in rear - her jockey Dylan Robinson sustaining a suspected broken collarbone.

Cable was still clear after the third last but Tagg's Island and Muthaza were inching closer in second and third respectively.

The leader made a mistake at the penultimate flight whereas Muthaza soared over it and landed full of running in second. The 1/6 favourite tanked along on the bridle and had caught Cable coming to the last.

She eased away on the run-in to come in by six and a half lengths from Cable (20/1) who was 14 lengths in front of The Last Marju at 25/1.

Jockey Ruby Walsh said: "I was (worried) crossing the road thinking he's plenty far in front but you have to ride the race, you can't panic then. She quickened up really well to the second last hurdle where I got an absolute flyer. From being too far back I was going to be in front too soon.

"She is a good filly, her work at home has always been good. She won very well in Tramore and again at Bellewstown and she has progressed to win here today. She's a filly we like a lot."

Trainer Willie Mullins added: "I was certainly very worried at the third last. If she made a mistake it was going to be tough for her to make up the ground but she jumped well. She jumped the second last very quick and slick and from then on I wasn't worried. It's a good start to the Festival.

"We think she is very good. She likes good ground. I'm going to keep going with her now. I don't think she is going to be a middle of winter mare and we'll try and get what we can and give her a little break and bring her back and prepare her for Cheltenham - hopefully for the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham."

Muthaza maintained her unbeaten record after earlier wins at Tramore and Bellewstown.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes