Dinoblue

Dinoblue could hardly have been more impressive than she was in winning the opening mares’ maiden hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday. Strong in the market beforehand, Mark Walsh had her prominent from early, and her jumping was really good for a debutante. She took up the running as they raced down the back straight final time and, while she was challenged by her stable companion La Prima Donna on the run across the top of the track and into the home straight, she picked up about two lengths in front at the second last flight, and she came away from her rival from there, pinged the last and went to the line willingly, 15 lengths clear of her rivals.

You had to be impressed with this performance from Willie Mullins’ mare. As well as the visual impression that she created, her time was faster by seven seconds and 12 seconds respectively than the other two hurdle races run over the same course and distance on the day. A half-sister to Blue Sari, who split Envoi Allen and Thyme Again in the 2019 Champion Bumper, there is no knowing how high she can go now, and she deserves her lofty position in the market for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Clonmel, 6^th January 2022