My Sister Sarah jumps the last under Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
My Sister Sarah justified odds-on favouritism in style, as she ran out an easy winner of the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cailin Alainn Mares Hurdle.
Placed on her last four starts, the Willie Mullins trained six-year-old was fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time this afternoon and was sent off the clear market leader at 2/5.
Settled in second by Paul Townend, the daughter of Martaline eased to the front before three out anD soon went clear, never coming off the bridle, going on to prevail by ten lengths. Shanning (4/1), also trained by Mullins, filled the runner-up spot under David Mullins, while Ellie Mac was thirteen lengths back in third.
Townend said afterwards: "The cheek-pieces sharpened up her jumping early on. She got a horrible fall in Leopardstown last year and was brought down in Cheltenham so she might have lost her confidence a bit and the cheek-pieces helped her focus early in the race.
"Her Galway run (behind Great White Shark) got a boost yesterday and she was entitled to win today and I was impressed with her.
"She is handy enough size-wise and the way she lost her confidence over hurdles you'd need to have a think (regarding possible chasing). There is a good programme for her over hurdles and no doubt she'll be well placed."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
