The impressive victory of the Willie Mullins-trained Augusta Kate gave us another exciting mare to look forward to for the National Hunt season. It was also noteworthy for the breeding sector and the work done to promote mares’ races. Augusta Kate is product of two top class animals in four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats on the flat and a Grade 1 winning mare over hurdles in Feathard Lady.

The Colm Murphy-trained mare won her Grade 1 against males before the mares race initiative began in earnest. As with the flat, not all top NH mares breed top quality performers. The best to the best doesn’t always bear fruit. We currently see many John Ferguson runners over jumps with Derby winning pedigrees. However, where once we bred from mares with unproven ability, the increased number of mares’ races identifies those with a proven ability and aptitude for jumping. It can only be for the good of the sport that the National Hunt campaign now has a decent programme of graded races for mares.