Colreevy battles to victory in Faugheen Novice Chase

Thomas Weekes
December 26, 2020 4:15 pm

Mullins’ gallant mare bags Limerick Grade One.

Colreevy dug deep to land the Matchbook Betting Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare was headed two out, but the 5-1 chance fought back gallantly to deny Gordon Elliott’s Pencilfulloflead by half a length in the Grade One feature.

The winner’s stablemate Asterion Forlonge was the 4-6 favourite, but blundered and exited the race five fences from home – one of two fallers among the five who set out.

Colreevy was taking her chasing record to two from two, and winning rider Danny Mullins said: “It was a good performance. She was always very good to jump at home from day one, and the aim today was a clear round and hopefully we’d be in the mix down over the last two.

“I knew she’d keep galloping – she is very tough, not fast – and once Paul (Townend, on Asterion Forlonge) fell, it opened things up.

“But it still wasn’t going to be easy from there – when the other horse (Pencilfulloflead) joined her it definitely helped.

“There is a good programme for mares nowadays, and the Flynns (owners) will be delighted because they will probably breed from her and she is now a Grade One winner in bumpers and over fences.”