Pearl Of The West after black type in Killarney Pearl Of The West gets her chance to gain some black type in the BetVictor Mares Hurdle at Killarney today. John McConnell’s five-year-old showed her mettle when landing a competitive handicap at the Punchestown Festival and now chances her arm in Listed company. She has been put in her place at Grade Two and Grade Three level in the past — but could still be on the upgrade judged on her latest victory. The pick of her five rivals looks to be the Willie Mullins-trained Elimay, who won on the same Punchestown card after falling short when sixth to Roxsana in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Mitchouka was third behind Pearl Of The West at Punchestown and seeks compensation in the Kelly Brothers Handicap Hurdle. His trainer Gordon Elliott has a second string to his bow in Star Maker, who has been absent since finishing unplaced at Leopardstown over Christmas. John Queally dips Getaway Katie Mai into handicap company with just two runs under her belt over the smaller obstacles. Runner-up to last year’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner Relegate at Leopardstown, she went on to take the Grade Two bumper at Aintree before trying her hand at the hurdling game this term. An interesting race for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase has attracted a field off 11 including the Mags Mullins-trained Agusta Gold. The six-year-old makes her debut over fences after finishing second in a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
