Bonny Kate is pushed out on the run-in by Sean Flanagan © Photo Healy Racing
Bonny Kate made all to win the feature at Limerick today, the Grade 2 8/1 Willie Mullins To Train A Cheltenham Winner At Coral.ie EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Successful at Fairyhouse in November and in the National Trial at Punchestown on her last, the six-year-old daughter of Beneficial was sent off the 1/2 favourite to complete a hat-trick today.
Sent straight to the front by Sean Flanagan she jumped well throughout and went a few lengths clear from two out, keeping on well from there to score by an eased down two and a quarter lengths in the colours of Patricia Hunt. Uranna (5/2) couldn't reel in the Noel Meade trained winner and she had to settle for second under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins.
Sean Flanagan said afterwards: "She is very, very good to jump, runs the whole way to the line and loves that heavy ground.
"She is very versatile and actually has plenty speed but is also gutsy and hardy and stays galloping.
"The Irish National is in mind for her and everything seems to be going the right way for her and whatever she gets for today, she'll have a nice weight there."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes