Primrose blooms on fast surface
With ground conditions drying out (changed to good to firm after the second race), there were a number of withdrawals. But Primroseandblue clearly appreciated the fast surface, travelling well and jumping fluently before beating Audrelles Lad convincingly.
In the absence of his father, Patrick Mullins commented: “He’s rated 130, so we were expecting him to do the business. He’s at his best on better ground and is a fantastic jumper I’m not sure about plans but I’d imagine he’ll go chasing sooner rather than later.”
The Mullins team, out of luck with Are Ya Right Chief in the three-mile maiden hurdle, came close to completing a double with Dani Catalonia in the mares bumper.
But she was caught close home by 11/8 favourite Ourbeautifuldream, which finished fast under Declan Lavery (who is based with Willie Mullins) to snatch the spoils by three-quarters of a length.
Ourbeautifuldream, a well-regarded King’s Theatre mare, provided a welcome change of luck for trainer Prunella Dobbs, whose last success was registered by stable star Our Girl Salley at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
Red Calima, whose flat form for John Oxx included a close second to Ascot Gold Cup contender Saddler’s Rock in Tipperary, belatedly opened his account over hurdles, at the ninth attempt, when justifying favouritism in the Mount Leinster Maiden Hurdle.
Sent to the front by Robert Power at the seventh, the Paul Nolan-trained gelding proved a facile, seven-and-a-half lengths winner from Daisyanabelle, prompting his trainer to admit: “He’s been disappointing but the decision to run in this race paid off — we were considering the four-year-old race, but this one looked weaker and the extra trip helped him.”
