The Willie Mullins trained, J.P. McManus owned Sancta Simona maintained her two race unbeaten record over hurdles at Down Royal as the Barry Geraghty partnered mare landed the Grade 3 Lough Construction EBF (Mares) Novice Hurdle.

The keen going French bred daughter of Saddex followed up her Galway maiden hurdle win last month when today beating Holding Pattern by a length and a quarter.

Afterwards Mullins said “she was still green and hopefully she will improve. We will just try and keep her to the mares' programme.

"She's a fine, big mare and I like her; she's a mare that we have always had time for.

“She was very keen and was doing a lot of racing all the time and never got a chance to settle. I think once she gets a faster pace she might be better and maybe jump better as well."

In relation to Cheltenham, he added "she will still have to improve. She's well up to the standard of any good mares' novice that we have had at this time of the season, so I'm very happy with her progress."

Quotes from Michael Graham