Minx Tiara

Minx Tiara ran another fine race in the Paddy Mullins Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. She was taken on for the early lead by fellow front-runner Brides Hill. There was no relenting, and Brides Hill actually jumped on at the fourth flight, but Minx Tiara moved up on the new leader’s outside and the pair of them maintained the strong pace, with their rivals stretched out behind them. Minx Tiara moved to the front again though on the run to the second last flight, after which Brides Hill cried enough. She came under a ride from Sean Flanagan as they straightened up for home, but she found more in front, she went away from her closest pursuer Banntown Girl on the run to the final flight. She couldn’t repel Party Central though, who loomed up easily on her outside and jumped to the front over the last. Once she was headed, it appeared that Minx Tiara decided that she had done enough, and she was passed by Say Goodbye and Banntown Girl on the run-in.

It was still a fine performance by David O’Brien’s mare, to finish fourth in such a competitive mares’ handicap hurdle, given that she was up with the fast pace from flagfall. That’s her racing style, that’s how it appears that she likes to be ridden. This is the shortest trip over which she has raced since she ran in the second of her two bumpers at Wexford in April 2019, and it may be that she can do well over this type of trip, given her forward-going racing style. She has had plenty of racing, but she is only seven and there could still be more to come. Also, her chase rating is significantly lower than her hurdles rating, so she would be of interest in a handicap chase now too, if connections chose to go down that route.
Leopardstown, 6^th February 2022