Princess Zoe dead-heats on jumping debut at Punchestown

A Group 1 winner on the Flat, Princess Zoe will run at Cheltenham with the Mares' Novices' Hurdle her preferred Festival target

BATTLE ROYALE: Princess Zoe and Danny Mullins, left, and Ladybank with Rachael Blackmore share a dead heat. Picture: Healy Racing

A Group 1 winner on the Flat, Princess Zoe had to settle for a share of the spoils on her eagerly-awaited hurdling debut in the Bar One Racing Mares Maiden Hurdle in Punchestown, dead-heating with 40-1 shot Ladybank, in the Honeysuckle colours of Kenny Alexander.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, Princess Zoe went on at the third, hurdled fluently, with a couple of exceptions, and flattened the final flight before becoming involved in a great tussle with her Rachael Blackmore-ridden rival.