Mystic Princess was the toast of punters after rewarding good support in the Living The Dream Mares Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick on Friday evening.

Mark McNiff's charge ran on strongly under Derek Fox to beat Bell Of The Ball by a length and three-quarters, once more showing her liking for this venue.

Returned at 7-1, the five-year-old had been backed from 16-1 to 8-1 during the day.

McNiff said: "She ran very well twice here last year and showed a good liking for the track.

"It didn't look an overly-strong race, she liked the track and had a nice weight, so she had a good each-way chance. Derek got the run of the race.

"She'll probably go to Sligo on the 23rd.

Tsundoku relished the hill as she got up close home to take the Downe Maiden Hurdle.

Carnduff had led for much of the two-and-a-quarter-mile affair, before Twilight Shadow ranged up going to two out and looking set to go close after skipping clear off the final turn.

But Danny Mullins never gave up on the once-raced winner, trained by his mother Mags, and the 7-2 chance came from some way back to claw up the ground.

A length and a half was the winning margin, with Carnduff far from disgraced back in third on his first start since December 2014.

The well-connected winner is owned by Aileen Lynam, the wife of top trainer Eddie.

Mags Mullins said: "She wants a little bit of an ease in it. He (Eddie Lynam) sent her down to see if we could win a hurdle with her and we did.

"The first day we ran her it was absolutely horrendous in Tramore and we didn't get a run into her since and he's been great and very patient, so I'm delighted I got it right for him.

"She jumped better, she's a little Flat filly so they do need a run or two. She'll go back and win on the Flat for them as well. We'll see how she is after this.

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"We'll run it through Eddie and see what happens."