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Limini sights set on Mares Champion prize

LiminiLimini
© Photo Healy Racing

Cheltenham Festival heroine Limini goes back against her own sex in a bid to regain winning ways in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Champion Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was considered one of the bankers of the week at Prestbury Park last month and did not let her supporters down with a most impressive display in the inaugural Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

She was then favourite to beat the boys in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, but had to make do with minor honours behind Buveur D'Air and Petit Mouchoir.

While there was no disgrace in that performance, Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, feels Limini did not run up to her best on Merseyside.

"We were a little disappointed in Aintree. It was a big step up from a mares' novice race to taking on the geldings, but we thought she'd be well able for it," Mullins told At The Races.

"Two down, if you stopped it, it looked like everything was going to plan. Perhaps she didn't run to form - Ruby (Walsh) thought she was a little keen.

"A Flat campaign is possibly the plan for her as well. She shows an awful lot of speed."

Limini faces eight rivals as she bids to follow in the hoofprints of esteemed stable companion Annie Power, who has landed this prize for the last two years.

Mullins also saddles outsider Whiteout, while Jessica Harrington fires two bullets with Cheltenham runner-up Rock On The Moor joined by Keppols Queen.

Aidan O'Brien's Slowmotion suffered a short-priced defeat on her Irish debut at Limerick last month, but righted that wrong in some style at Fairyhouse.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: " She came on for the first day and won nicely at Fairyhouse.

"We're happy with her and she'll like the better ground. We're hoping for the best. "

Jennies Jewel, runner-up in Thursday's Champion Stayers Hurdle, has been declared to run again by Jarlath Fahey.

Stuart Crawford's Legacy Gold and a pair of British raiders in Neil Mulholland's Pass The Time and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Aurore D'Estruval complete the field.