Dameauscottlestown
Dameauscottlestown ran a big race to finish second in the Paddy and Maureen Mullins Mares' Handicap Hurdle that opened proceedings at Leopardstown on Sunday. Settled in mid-division by Eoin Staples through the early stages of the race, and along the inside, she got caught in traffic over the second last flight and across the top of the track, with the result that she was well back in the field as they straightened up for home. She had to chart her way through traffic from the top of the home straight, and, no better than 10th with two furlongs to run off a sedate pace, she got moved to her left on the run to the final flight. As well as that, she had to check off the rail half-way up the run-in as the winner Cousin Kate moved onto it, but she kept going forward, she closed the winner, a seriously progressive mare herself, down to three parts of a length by the time she got to the winning line, and she came over three lengths clear of the third horse.
This was another step forward by Gavin Cromwell's mare. Well beaten in each of her first three races over hurdles, she was given an initial mark of a lowly 98 for her first handicap at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, which she duly won easily. Raised by 15lb for that to a mark of 113, she proved that she was well able for that mark here. She was raised by another 5lb for this run, but that was fair, this was just her fifth run over hurdles, and she has buckets of potential for further progression. She handled the heavy ground here well, but it was yielding when she won at Punchestown, so she is obviously versatile in terms of ground conditions. Out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, she saw out this two-and-a-quarter-mile trip well. She holds an entry in a mares' beginners' chase at Fairyhouse on Monday, and she will be of interest if she takes her chance in that. She will also be of interest in another handicap hurdle now off her new mark of 118.
Leopardstown, 1st February 2026
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