Asthuria leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Robbie Power came in for an extraordinary winning spare ride on Asthuria at Limerick today as the Willie Mullins trained mare landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Chase under the Gold Cup and Grand National winner.
Power partnered his first of three winners for Champion Trainer Mullins last season and added a fourth today with Asthuria who made all to beat Teacher's Pet by two and a half lengths.
The sequence of events leading to Power getting to ride Asthuria today began some months ago, as Mullins' principal jockeys are either injured, on foreign duty or suspended.
Stable jockey Ruby Walsh is sidelined with a leg injury, Paul Townend is serving a suspension incurred at Punchestown, David and Danny Mullins are riding in France today for Mullins, while Rachael Blackmore was declared to ride Asthuria but was stood down following a fall in the fourth race.
Asthuria was completing a double on the day for Mullins and afterwards Power commented "it was a great spare ride to get but it was unfortunate for Rachael.
"I actually rode her before in Naas when she was second to Benie Des Dieux and she is a brilliant jumper and that's her big asset.
"She was able to dictate with the step up in trip today and we had things under control most of the way. She is some jumper in fairness to her and it was nice to get it."
Jockey Rachael Blackmore received her fall from Caliption in the fourth race and was sent for facial x-rays.
