Unbeaten How's Hannah can deliver yet more success for Mullins

This late maturing daughter of Sans Frontieres, winner of a Ballynoe point-to-point for Tim Townend, has looked exciting in winning a bumper and maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026 - 07:35

John Ryan

Far from the buzz of Cheltenham, Willie Mullins should land the Grade 3 BoyleSports Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle with the unbeaten How’s Hannah in Limerick.

This late maturing daughter of Sans Frontieres, winner of a Ballynoe point-to-point for Tim Townend, has looked exciting in winning a bumper and maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

And, although facing a formidable opponent in progressive, 130-rated Zanoosh, How’s Hannah will extend her untarnished record.

Sourced by and owned by Temple Bloodstock, How’s Hannah made her racecourse debut in mid-January and produced a smooth performance to see off Think It Through by 13 lengths.

Five weeks later, she returned to Punchestown for her hurdling debut. And, sent off at ½ favourite, created very favourable impression.

Having taken a lead early, Patrick Mullins sent her to the front at the sixth and dictated the pace from that point, ultimately toying with the nearest rival Torpille Lagrostis.

How’s Hannah, who was conceding 8lb to her rival, who has since opened her account, scored by two lengths, under tender handling, and could have won by substantially more.

Racing over a similar trip today, the selection will be ridden by Jody Townend and, an exciting prospect, is a confident choice.

Obvious danger is Colm Murphy’s Zanoosh, a battle-hardened Harzand mare, bidding for a four-timer.

Off the mark in a Punchestown maiden in December, she then won a competitive Navan handicap, beating Hgranca De Thaix, and, more recently, returned to County Meath to land the listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle at the expense of Poetisa (turned over in a Naas bumper on Sunday).

The Gigginstown-owned, Willie Mullins-trained Dschingis Desire might be good enough to upstage three previous winners in the opening John Buckley Engineering Ltd 4-Y-0 Hurdle.

This French import showed little on her Irish debut at Leopardstown but produced a better effort when bumping into promising older rival Star Of The Week at Naas three weeks ago.

If she takes another step forward, the Brian Hayes-ridden filly might take advantage of the 14lb she receives from Donnacha O’Brien’s Kilmeaden, successful at Punchestown before finishing fourth to Highland Crystal in a rated event in Naas.

Later, the James Fahey-trained Dancing Jeremy, up 4lb. for a recent win in Thurles, might defy top-weight and follow-up in the Play perysbingo.com Veterans Handicap Chase.

John Ryan's picks:

12.30: Dschingis Desire

1.00: How’s Hannah (Nap)

1.34: Gaelic Des Chastys

2.14: Fou De Toi

2.54: James The Brave

3.34: Dancing Jeremy

4.14: Shanroe Act

4.54: Jury Time (n.b.)

Next Best

12.30: Kilmeaden

1.00: Zanoosh