Asian just amazing

Asian Maze evoked momories of the legendary Dawn Run for trainer Tom Mullins when routing the opposition for an impressive success in the Menolly Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown today.

Following breathtakingly easy wins at both Fairyhouse and Aintree, the six-year-old mare led from pillar to post to capture the Grade One event by a heavily eased-down five lengths.

The 6-4 favourite had many of her rivals at work as she motored down the far side of the track and was almost a distance clear turning for home.

Paul Carberry then just nursed her down the run-in, allowing runner-up Kerryhead Windfarm to eat into her advantage, with Washington Lad coming home in third.

“There were qualities of Dawn Run about her when she won in Fairyhouse,” said Mullins.

“I don’t think she will ever win a Champion Hurdle or a Gold Cup, but she put up Dawn Run-type performances in Fairyhouse, Aintree and again today.

“I’m thrilled she’s done it today as it has been a long season.

“She’ll go home now for a long break and we will have to think about what to do next season, but she has been so good and improved so much.

“It’s tempting to go chasing next season, especially with a 7lb mares allowance in England, or we could stay over hurdles.

“She is not as big as Dawn Run, but I will keep on dreaming that she is as good as Dawn Run was.”

The great mare, the only horse to have won both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, was trained by Mullins’ father Paddy.

The showdown between Irish and Scottish Grand National winners Numbersixvalverde and Joes Edge failed to materialise as 7-1 chance Pay It Forward landed the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase.

The clash between the pair had been billed as one of the big matches of the Festival, but with Martin Brassil’s charge failing to land a blow, it was left to Ferdy Murphy’s Joes Edge to go closest, finishing two lengths back in second.

Keith Mercer’s mount looked likely to play a big part in the finish when eating into the winner’s advantage entering the home straight in the three-mile-one-furlong event.

However, despite keeping on well, he could not get any closer, and was chased home in third by Mullacash.

“He’s a good-ground horse and has been entered in everything for the last two months, but I’ve not been able to run him as the ground has been wrong,” said winning trainer Jessica Harrington.

“He won in Down Royal the weekend before Cheltenham and I’ve entered him six times since and have pulled him out every time. But I thought this morning that we’ll have to run today as we were running out of options.

“We’ll now look for some nice races on summer jumping ground – races like the Galway Plate or one of the nice ones at Market Rasen.”

Murphy was satisfied with the performance of Joes Edge.

He said: “I was happy enough with that. It’s been a long season and I did hope for a better pace as all he does is stay and stay, and he kept on all the way.”

Northumberland-based trainer Vicky Scott gave Britain its fifth win of the meeting as Snoopy Loopy, ninth in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle, battled for a hard-fought victory in the Opel Novice Hurdle.

After the 16-1 shot’s two-and-a-half-length victory from The Railway Man, Scott said: “It was a dramatic race but the horse has done me proud.

“I bought him a year ago after he won a couple of point-to-points and he has been unlucky not to win more often under rules.

“I had my first runner here yesterday and while he finished unplaced I would definitely come again.”

Following the successful four-day meeting, Willie Mullins was crowned leading trainer, while Paul Carberry collected the leading jockey award.