Jade De Grugy in flying form© Photo Healy Racing
Smooth-travelling Jade De Grugy swiftly settled matters for Willie Mullins in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The 8/13 favourite travelled all over the leader Look To The West as the heads turned for home and she was still on the bridle in picking up a narrow lead two out. Brian Hayes pushed her along to assert before the last and assert she did as her rivals toiled in vain pursuit.
She wasn't at her most fluent at the final obstacle, but glided home by a more than comfortable six and a-half lengths from stablemate A Penny A Hundred (15/2).
Assistant trainer David Casey said: “She was very impressive. She did things right all the way, she jumps brilliant. She travelled and quickened up in the straight. Brian was very happy with her.
“She's a very sensible mare and always did everything right, we're delighted with her.
“She has the race at Cheltenham and the Grade 1 back here, obviously. There is a short gap between them, but I'd imagine they will be the two targets.
“She was very good in Leopardstown and, obviously, very good again today.”
Jade De Grugy won on the level in her native France before slaying a big field in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
This gave Mullins an across-the-card treble after Capodanno's victory in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham and Ashroe Diamond's success in the Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Doncaster.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
