Marina looks superstar in the making

THAT was a stunning performance by Glencove Marina at Leopardstown on Sunday and, though it’s a well-worn cliche, the sky really is the limit for Willie Mullins’ six-year-old.

Glencove Marina has always been a good horse, right from the moment he first set foot on a racecourse when winning a bumper at Thurles in February of 2006, but I have taken a particular interest in him ever since a conversation with Ruby Walsh at the Punchestown Festival of last year.

In March of 2007, Glencove Marina returned to Thurles to make his debut over flights and duly won a bad maiden unextended by 16 lengths. He then stepped way up in class in a Grade 2 at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting. Despite a technique which lacked any sort of fluency, he was beaten less than two lengths into third behind De Valira.