Zuzka eases to maiden hurdle success

Having finished third on her hurdling debut, Zuzka went two places better today as she took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle for her trainer Willie Mullins with Ruby Walsh in the saddle.

The 5yo daughter of Flemensfirth was sent off the 4/9 favourite to oblige this afternoon and she hit the front after the third last and kept on well from there to score comfortably by six and a half lengths.

The Michael McElhone trained 10yo Cool Annie finished second at 20/1 under Stephen Gray while Music On D Waters was a further eleven lengths back in third at 12/1 under Conor Maxwell for Dermot McLoughlin.

Winning rider Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "She stepped at the third last but she jumped brilliantly apart from that. She had a very good run at Gowran last time out and she improved a bit from that."

Owned by the Supreme Horse Racing Club the bay mare is now three from four having won two bumpers and now her maiden hurdle.

(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)