"Very brave" Lady takes the feature
Westerner Lady and Ruby Walsh lead from Supreme Vinnie and Rachael Blackmore
© Photo Healy Racing
There was a sixth winner of the week at Galway for Willie Mullins when Westerner Lady (3/1 favourite) took the day six feature, the Grade B Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.
The Ruby Walsh-ridden victor certainly earned her victory as she ran out of room on the run-in, but she came again to get the better of Supreme Vinnie (Rachael Blackmore without an iron from the last) by half a length.
Brian Ellison 's raider Totalize was a neck back in third under Danny Mullins.
"She was very brave. She jumped well, and stays well, and will obviously stay further from the look of that," said Mullins.
"I think she carried a stone and five more than the second, and to be knocked over in the straight and come back, I thought it was very brave of her.
"She will probably go novice chasing now, I'm not sure if there is anything over hurdles for her now. She likes this ground, I'm not sure if she is a real winter ground mare."
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Some Hawk (GB), trained by Thomas Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have a small nick on the off fore fetlock but otherwise post race normal.
M.P. Walsh, rider of Some Hawk (GB), trained by Thomas Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount hung left and stopped quickly.
(DM & EM)