Colreevy (Paul Townend,far-side) jumps with Scarlet And Dove (Donagh Meyler)© Photo Healy Racing
Colreevy maintained her perfect record over fences, taking her score to 3 from 3 in the Grade Two Coolmore N.H. Sires Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at Thurles.
She shrugged aside a Grade One penalty for her Limerick win over Christmas, again relishing the fencing task off the front end.
Upsides and trying to match strides, Scarlet And Dove fell two out. That left Colreevy (4/5 favourite) to come home twelve lengths clear from Mount Ida (13/2 into 4/1 second market choice).
For the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase at the Cheltenham festival the sponsors go 3/1 from 7/2 about the Willie Mullins-trained Colreevy, owned and bred by the Flynn family in Dungarvan.
"She jumps very well and takes it all in her stride. Paul (Townend, winning jockey) was very happy with her and how she did everything for him with no fuss about her,” said Mullins.
"There's a Grade 2 chase at Limerick in March that we're looking at next but whether or not she has higher expectations or not I don't know. I'll chat with the owners but they were hoping coming here today to hopefully win and then go on to Limerick.
"We might revise plans but we'll see; whether or not she has enough experience over fences to go to Cheltenham is another day's work. Certainly what she has done at Limerick over Christmas and today would lead you to think she might have as good a chance as anything over there."
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Yukon Lil (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
B. Hayes, rider of Slainte And Thanks trained by G. Ahern, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.
At the request of the Stewards, D.E. Mullins, rider of Yukon Lil (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never jumped fluently.
(TW & EM)
