Punchestown: Cheltenham next for Princess Zoe after dead-heat on hurdling debut

She had to share the spoils, but the hurdling debut of 2020 Prix Du Cadran winner Princess Zoe in the mares maiden hurdle was a successful one for Tony and Danny Mullins, and for owner Paddy Kehoe. 

A dead-heat with 40-1 shot Ladybank caused Paddy Power to cut her to 16-1 from 40s for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while pushing her out to 40-1 from 25s for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

Despite her weakness in the market, it was a race that seemed to go to plan for most of the way. She was fresh and keen in front, her hurdling technique was brave, and when she had odds-on favourite Pink In The Park off the bridle coming to the second last there appeared to be only one possible result. 

Turning into the straight though, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare Ladybank, with Rachael Blackmore in the Kenny Alexander silks of Honeysuckle, was hard in pursuit. Princess Zoe steadied into the final flight and Ladybank tried to take her chance, but Princess Zoe displayed the staying and battling qualities which have endeared her to the racing public as she forced a photograph. The camera was at least partially kind to her as a dead-heat was forced.

Princess Zoe leads Ladybank but makes a mistake at the lastCredit: Racing TV

Ladybank closes as the post approachesCredit: Racing TV

The two flash past together - but Princess Zoe holds on for a dead-heatCredit: Racing TV

Danny Mullins said: “It was a good performance. She got a bit tired late on. It's a good stepping stone and a fair run first time over hurdles for an eight-year-old. She had been off for a while and I would say there's plenty of improvement to come. She's brave too.”

It was not hard to gauge the relief Tony Mullins felt after the mare came through this test and he was bathed in smiles. He said: “She was a little gassy early on and when he let her to the front she had nothing to go with her, so I think it was a very good performance to jump out and make all.

"I was surprised when Danny told me that because she was gassy early on, he thinks she didn't get home. So at the moment, the logical way looks to be the Mares' Novice instead of the Albert Bartlett. She has taken to jumping well. She was brave and I was very happy with that.” 

Asked if going back to the Flat after Cheltenham was on the cards, he added: “Paddy Kehoe has always told me that as long as she was able to run, breeding off her was secondary to him. So who am I to complain? We'll never have the likes of her again.”

Princess Zoe and Ladybank: couldn't be separated at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

The winning owner had his own thoughts on things. He said: “My bet was halved! I had a big bet come up on a dog in England and that rolled on to her, so I'm happy with the way she ran but I'd have been a lot happier had she won outright!”

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