Rock overcomes long absence to make winning comeback

Fresh from a double in Tramore on Saturday, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh landed the Bloomfield House Hotel Mares Hurdle with Daisys Rock in Kilbeggan yesterday.

Off the track since winning her maiden hurdle in Killarney last July, the 2/1 favourite was far from fluent in the early stages and lost her place. But Ruby eased her back into contention on the final circuit and, getting the better of front-runner Duckweed, forged clear to score by eight lengths.

“She was bit rusty and missed a couple of early hurdles,” explained the winning rider.

“I got a bit further back than planned. But she probably wants further and stayed at it well.”

In-form Gordon Elliott doubled-up with progressive four-year-old Mustadrik and Akorakor.

“He’s in at Listowel tomorrow and we’ll see how he is in the morning – he’s tough and stays going well,” explained Elliott after Mustadrik, a seventeen lengths winner in Down Royal on Friday night, followed-up, under a mandatory penalty, in the three-mile Kilbeggan Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old, ridden by Luke Dempsey, came from off the pace for an ultimately convincing, nine lengths win over Western Promise.

Bryan Cooper provided Elliott with the second leg of his double when Akorakor, having his second run over fences, outstayed market rival Macnicholson in the Mullingar.ie Beginners Chase. “We’ll mix and match it with him, hurdles and fences for the summer – he’s going to the Sales in September,” explained Elliott.