Dysart Diamond over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins brought up an across-the-card double when Dysart Diamond held on in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.
The six-year-old mare travelled strongly into contention behind Western Victory on the home bend and picked it up before the last.
She idled on the run-in and Bryan Cooper got serious with her to fend off a staying-on Royal Kahala by a diminishing half length.
She obliged at 7/2 from the 10/3 runner-up. Western Victory gave best in third at 11/2.
Mullins said: “I’m delighted with how well she’s improved through the season to come from a handicapper up to win a Listed race.
“She likes goodish ground and she’s getting nice ground here today. I’m sure once we get winter ground it won’t suit. She’ll probably get nice ground in Leopardstown.”
Mullins also took the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle 10 minutes earlier in Cork.
Paddy Power gave Dysart Diamond a first show of 16/1 for the Mares' Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
