Triumph Hurdle contender? Majolique impresses on Irish debut | Full race | Racing TV

Описание: Having won her only start on the Flat in France, Majolique made an impressive switch to hurdles when landing the Listed Download The William Hill App Juvenile Hurdle at Naas on her first outing for Willie Mullins.

Sporting the familiar silks of Kenny Alexander, the 15/8 favourite defied market weakness and hitting the wing of the second-last in a dramatic contest by quickening smartly approaching the final flight and ultimately powering clear to win by four lengths.

Assistant trainer David Casey admitted the victory exceeded expectations.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “I didn’t think she was forward enough and felt she would improve for the run.

“She’s a filly we liked when she arrived at the start of the season, but she had an injury setback and only came back late. If she’d finished in the first three I’d have been delighted — I didn’t think she was ready to win.

“She put up a very good performance. The steady early pace probably suited her — it turned what should have been a mile-and-seven race into more of a mile-and-five contest.

“It’s great to win and she clearly has plenty of ability. She’ll improve a lot for that.”

Majolique holds an entry for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, though Casey suggested the Festival may come too soon.

“She’s in the Triumph, but Cheltenham might be a bit quick for her. The owners won a Grade One at Aintree last year with Murcia and perhaps she could be aimed at something like that. Willie will make a plan and we’ll see how she comes out of this.

“She hasn’t done much work since returning and was only just ready to run.”

Asked whether a return to the Flat could be considered, Casey added: “Possibly. She hadn’t shown a huge amount of pace at home, but Paul said she travelled with much more speed in the race.”

Following the win, Paddy Power cut Majolique to 20/1 from 33/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

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