ON her first start for some 298 days Limini laid down a late and telling marker for the Cheltenham Festival as she lowered the colours of Apple’s Jade in the Listed Quevega Mares Hurdle.

A winner of the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham last year, Limini met with defeat on her two subsequent outings and hadn’t been seen since a surprise defeat against Whiteout at this track last April.

On her first outing of the season, the Willie Mullins charge faced a daunting task on heavy ground on her first try at two and a half miles against her former stablemate who came here on the back of a Hatton’s Grace Hurdle triumph.

However, the outcome was a resounding success for the Susannah Ricci-owned Limini (3/1) whose Cheltenham claims look iron-clad as evidenced by bookmakers cutting her into evens favouritism for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle.

Interestingly this race was the spring board to Annie Power’s 2016 Champion Hurdle victory and the winning trainer did not dismiss the idea of a supplementary entry for that race.

Limini jumped better than she has ever done, travelled supremely well for Ruby Walsh and was coasting in the the slipstream of the front running favourite turning for home. Apple’s Jade did everything right through the race but she had no answer as Limini quickened by on the run in to score by two lengths. Rock On The Moor was 14 lengths back in third while Whiteout fell at the fourth last.

“It was her first run back this season and conditions weren’t ideal so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Willie Mullins. “Hopefully she’ll come out of this well and we’ll prepare her for next month. The mares’ race is what I have been aiming for. The fact that Ruby didn’t have to pick up his stick means she has improved since last year. She’s probably run a stone better than I thought she would.”

Of the runner-up Gordon Elliott commented: “She’s been beaten by a better mare and there were no excuses. The mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham is still the plan and probably better ground and a quicker gallop there will suit her better.”

BATTLED WELL

Another reversal for odds-on punters followed in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle as the Mullins-trained Castello Sforza was outpointed by the Elliott-trained and Gigginstown-owned Mossback (5/1).

The pair came to the last locked in combat in this two and a half miles contest and the favourite looked as though he was poised to find a way past. A courageous Mossback refused to yield though and possibly even won a shade cosily as Bryan Cooper didn’t have to get especially animated for his mount to carry the day by a neck.

“He’s a three miles chaser for down the road,” declared Elliott. “He battled well and hopefully we’ll get another win into him this season. Possibly the three mile novice handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse would be a good race for him.”

The 50/1 shot Kilfenora sprang a huge upset with a revelatory effort in the two miles maiden hurdle. This Eddie Harty-trained son of Yeats hadn’t made any impression on his first three outings but it was an entirely different story this time. The five-year-old, who paid over 171/1 on the Tote, cruised into the lead on the run to the last flight and could afford the luxury of a clumsy jump there en route to a 15 lengths defeat of Mr Showtime.

“He handled the ground well and he jumped well,” observed J.P. McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry. “I’d say the penny is only dropping with him and while the ground stays soft he will probably stay on the go.”

Joseph O’Brien took the wraps off a talented sort in the four-year-old bumper as Early Doors (7/2) put his rivals to the sword in style. The Goffs Land Rover Sale graduate cruised through the race for Patrick Mullins and quickened up smartly off the last bend to make his way to the front. He then kept on strongly to hand out a nine lengths beating to the well backed Remastered.

“We did like him at home but the ground was a little bit of a concern. That was the first time he’s been off the bridle,” stated O’Brien whose charge carries the colours of M.V. Magnier.

“Patrick said he could be a horse for Cheltenham but I’m not sure that would be the right thing to do and he might come back here for the Land Rover bumper.”

CLEAR CUT WIN

The Green Lady (10/1) returned to the form that carried her to a debut success in a Fairyhouse bumper last spring with a clear cut triumph in the two and three quarter miles mares maiden hurdle.

Danny Mullins produced the daughter of Westerner to pick off the front running favourite Freeway Space before the last and the George Moore-owned mare stayed on stoutly to pull eight lengths clear.

“We’ve always liked her but she has just been a bit free in the past. I was hoping to run her on Thyestes day at Gowran but she wasn’t right and it was only in the last 10 days that she has come back to herself,” commented Fahy. “She is in a mares handicap hurdle at the weekend and we’ll think about the Grade 3 mares hurdle at Limerick next month.”

On what was a tricky afternoon for punters, the 20/1 chance Graphic Legacy accounted for the favourite Rock On Barney in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over two and a half miles.

Successful jockey Ricky Doyle lost his whip early in the straight but he still conjured a sustained effort from his mount when it mattered most and Graphic Legacy, on the fifth outing of his career, battled well after the last to succeed by a length and a half.

“I must thank his owner Aaron Deverell. This horse has always shown us plenty at home but he’s been a bit frustrating and Aaron kept faith in him,” reported Mark Fahey.

Perfect Man (9/2) followed up his surprise win at Thurles earlier in the month with a gritty triumph over Stay With It in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle. The Paddy Hurley-owned and trained gelding answered Damien Skehan’s every call on the run in to edge out his aforementioned rival by a head. This was Skehan’s third winner from his last four rides.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Caffrey, J. McGrath, J. Rearden, J. Murphy, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

STOOSHIE (G. Elliott): This Fracas newcomer ran with credit to finish fourth in the bumper. He did make up some nice ground from the rear in the final half mile and should be all the better for this initial experience while better ground would also suit him.

Two-day ban

BRIAN Hayes, who rode the third placed Mighty Stowaway, picked up a two day careless riding ban in the maiden hurdle won by Mossback. He has lodged an appeal.