Hauturiere

Hauturiere did well to finish second behind My Design in the two-and-a-half-mile mares’ maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last Saturday. Settled nicely early on by Paul Townend in fourth place and along the inside, behind a decent pace that Ian Power set on My Design, she travelled well to the home turn. She had to switch on the run to the second last flight to come outside Beth Horan, which wasn’t ideal, and she made a mistake at the second last flight, which halted her forward momentum. She recovered her equilibrium though and she picked up again, but a similar mistake at the final flight, although not quite as significant, ended any realistic chance she had of winning the race. Even so, she kept on well to take second place, closing all the way to the line.

It was a good run by Willie Mullins’ mare, on just her second run since joining the champion trainer from France. She was well beaten by Guily Billy on her Irish debut at Tramore in December, but this was a nice step forward from that, and she could improve significantly as she becomes more fluent over her hurdles, which she should do as she gains in experience. By No Risk At All, sire of Epatante and Allaho, and out of a mare who won over two and a quarter miles over fences, she saw out this intermediate trip well, and she could get further.

Fairyhouse, 15^th January 2022