Airlie Beach and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Airlie Beach maintained her unbeaten record with a decisive all the way victory in the featured Pat Walsh Memorial EBF Mares Hurdle at Gowran Park.
The daughter of Shantou repeated the tactics that proved so successful at Galway earlier this month but this time executed by Ruby Walsh instead of Paul Townend in this Listed event.
Walsh asked her to quicken before the last, and the 4/9 favourite stayed on well to beat stablemate, and last year’s winner, Daisy’s Gift by six lengths.
Billy’s Hope was just denied second on the line.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, “She seems to be improving, and whether she can handle winter ground is another thing. We will look at the mares’ novice programme for her.
“She’s surprising us with the way she keeps pulling it out, and hopefully she’s not stopped improving.”
Walsh said, “She travelled well and jumped well. She quickened smartly down the hill, and it’s a good trend in any novice to be able to beat the older horses.
“I was fairly impressed with her in Galway from behind with the speed she showed from the second last. She’s a little dinger to jump.”
