Sugar shoots to victory

Division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle went to the 5/1 joint favourite Sugar Bullet for Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper.

The 7yo daughter of Witness Box won a point-to-point at Ballysteen in April of last year before winning a bumper at Naas in November. This was however her seventh attempt at breaking her maiden tag over timber.

The winner disputed the lead approaching 3 out with eventual third Ardnavalley took up the running before 2 out and stayed on best to win by a length at the finish with Dizzy Rascal & Ruby Walsh finishing well to take second close home.

The winning trainer, jockey combination were enjoying their second win of the Festival having won with Ross Na Righ yesterday.

The winning trainer stated afterwards: "It was a workmanlike performance. I’d say she was feeling the ground on the first circuit but she seemed to warm to it after. She might have idled a bit in front but she did it well at the finish."

Donal Murphy