Irish Stallion Farms EBF

Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

CHELTENHAM disappointment turned into Fairyhouse elation for the connections of Ashroe Diamond, who made up for skipping last month’s Cotswolds assignment when bolting up in the newly-renamed Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle.

Paul Townend was seen at his coolest on the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old as he never panicked despite huge outsider Whatcouldhavebeen skipping clear of the field on the turn for home under an enterprising ride from Aidan Kelly.

The champion jockey gradually reeled in the 66/1 leader and was able to assert in the closing stages by five lengths in the closing stages, with the front pair pulling a further 17 lengths clear of 80/1-third Pink In The Park.

Fairyhouse’s winner’s enclosure was thronged with thrilled winning owners from the Blue Blood Racing Club, a group managed by James Fenton that features 134 people - all of which are members of An Garda Siochana.

Paddy Power responded to the impressive success by cutting Ashroe Diamond to 5/1 (from 14/1) for next year’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival - now only behind stablemate Lossiemouth (4/1) in the market.

On the up

Assistant trainer David Casey said: “Paul felt she did everything right today. She got a bit keen, as it was a stop-start type of race, but she jumped brilliantly and did it very easily.

“Who knows what would have happened at Cheltenham but it’s great to win today - it’s very important for the mare [to win a Grade 1]. Hopefully she’ll go forward next year.”

Ashroe Diamond is not entered for any of the early-closing races at the Punchestown Festival and appeared to pick up a nasty cut in her Fairyhouse win, so whether she reappears at the Co Kildare venue later this month remains to be seen.

Townend added: “There weren’t many anxious moments because she travelled so well, maybe a bit too well at times. I had to even take her back at a point in case fighting for a position would light her up a bit too much. I felt I had the horse underneath me to do that, and that’s a nice, rare feeling.”

Fahey’s pride

They often say it takes two horses to make an exciting race, and trainer Jarlath Fahey was proud of the efforts of Whatcouldhavebeen, who entered the top-level assignment with a mark of 125 over hurdles and 72 on the flat.

Fahey said: “It was some performance for a Grade 1. A couple of runs back, Ashroe Diamond beat us two and three quarters of a length. We freshened her up after that and said she’s not far off being a Grade 1 mare. She ran a cracker.

“I thought the further she’d go the better she’d be, so I’ve stuck her in the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle over three miles at the Punchestown Festival, rather than taking on the older mares over shorter. I don’t know whether that’s the right decision or not, but that’s the only entry she has at Punchestown. If all goes well, we’ll have a go.”

Ashroe Diamond was one of seven runners in the race for Mullins, who was winning the race for a record-extending seventh time.