Mighty Blue and Dylan Browne McMonagle © Photo Healy Racing
A few runs over hurdles in the winter have clearly done no harm to Mighty Blue (6/1) who bolted up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes (Listed).
The daughter of Authorized tracked the leaders before coming with her effort early in the home straight.
Dylan Browne McMonagle pushed her to the front inside the final quarter-mile and she went clear to win by seven and a half lengths from 66/1 chance Lismore Yaxeni and Princess Zoe (never really travelling but stayed on well) were just behind the runner-up in third and fourth.
The winner scored in France before coming to Ireland and she won in handicap company at the Curragh last season.
She’d finished behind several of today’s rivals when sixth at Cork last month, including disappointing 3/1 favourite Flor De La Luna who dropped right out, but turned that form around in no uncertain terms.
Brendan Powell, assistant to winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, said: “It was a good performance. She's a good tough filly.
“She's been on the go all year, she ran well at Cheltenham (third in the mares' novice hurdle) and ran a nice race at Cork where the ground was probably a bit quick for her.
“Dylan said she travelled away, got a lovely lead, and the further she went the better she won.
“She has plenty of size to her and she's still a novice next year over hurdles, which is amazing really when you think of it.
“She jumped okay at Cheltenham, it wouldn't have been great, but she stayed on well there.
“That was a good performance from her. She's never really had a break between last season and the jumping season but she looks well in herself.
“I think the ground is the key to her, she loves soft ground.
“I'd say Joseph will give her a holiday when she needs it but she's not showing any signs of it at the moment, definitely not today anyway.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
