The Model Kingdom cruises home on first crack at hurdling The Model Kingdom made a winning transition to flights in the opening mares' maiden hurdle at Tipperary at long odds-on. Noel Meade's five-year-old mare won all three of her bumpers including in Grade 3 company at Punchestown in April. In this assignment, she raced in second behind clear leader C'est Rien and closed travelling well on the approach to the home straight. She tanked into contention at the second-last and breezed past the under pressure leader upon touching down. Bryan Cooper was virtually motionless as his mount increased the lead at the last and she was pushed out to coast home by an easy three and a half lengths. Ginnets Girl stuck on for second at 7/1, a neck in front of C'est Rien (16/1). Noel Meade said: "You'd be hoping she would be good to jump, but you don't really know until she runs. She jumps well, I told him (Cooper) not to take any chances and not to ask her for any big ones, and to just let her pop around. He did that and said he didn't really have to get her off the bridle. "You wouldn't have expected her to come off the bridle, it'll be a different story the next day but she should learn a lot and is having a good blow. "She's not in that long in and when she won in Punchestown she was off for a long time, and I didn't think she'd be ready. I'm always aware of that, so I try not to do too much with her. "We'll got for a mares' winners' somewhere and we'll stick to two miles. I haven't really thought beyond today." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
