Williamstown leads rivals a merry Dance

Smart bumper performer Williamstowndancer made a winning debut over hurdles when landing the opening Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick.

Last seen when finishing third in a Grade 2 Mares Bumper at Aintree, the Willie Mullins trained five-year-old battled on well to see off main threat Smooth Player on the run-in.

Held up in midfield in the initial stages, as eventual third Hilton De Chaillac cut out the running, Patrick Mullins moved closer on the run to final flight before taking over from the long-time leader jumping that obstacle.

Smooth Player emerged as the danger sweeping into the home straight but Mullins had enough in reserve on the odds-on favourite to pull clear close home.

Patrick Mullins said: "She was (very good). She was very keen - in Aintree I dropped her in because she can be so keen and she didn't go at all, but today she was in my hands everywhere, even though we were going a super strong gallop.

"She hurdled fantastically, she is like a cat. She's not big, one of the smallest in the yard. Even the last hurdle where she was wrong, she was quick at it.

"She will probably be a better hurdle mare than she was a bumper mare.

"They are (owners having great fun), they are from Blackrock College which would have been my opponents when I was back in school. They are well able to celebrate!"

Additional reporting by Michael Graham