Great training performance from Mullins with Sapphire Lady Off a 548 day break and on her first start over the larger obstacles Sapphire Lady won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. With a bumper and two hurdling victories under her belt the successful daughter of Beneficial here accounted for favourite Gin On Line by nine lengths. Sapphire Lady, the 5/2 second market choice, pleased Townend who said: "That was good having been off the track for a good period of time and she jumped like a buck and was brave at the last two when I needed her. "Since the first day she jumped a fence she was a natural and fences might have brought about a bit of improvement in her. "That family jump fences well and there are plenty of those mares' novice chases for her." D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Clancypantz trained by Michael Hourigan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was reluctant to race at the start. R.A. Doyle, rider of Howaya Aoife trained by Gerard Keane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung badly left. D. Meyler, rider of Trees Valley trained by W.J. Burke, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right late on. (TW & EM)
