She drifted in the betting, she had weaker form and she was returning to the track from over 300 days off but Limini saw off 2/5 favourite Apple’s Jade with an authoritative and very impressive two length success in the at Punchestown yesterday.
Running in a race named after one of her trainer’s, Willie Mullins’ best mares Quevega, 3/1 second-favourite Limini travelled beautifully throughout the two-mile and four furlongs contest and jumped with style and panache.
Settled in mid-division, Limini scythed through the field to come and challenge former stable-mate Apple’s Jade in the home straight and cantered to the front after the final obstacle to come clear in style under Ruby Walsh.
Not seen since the Punchestown Festival last year, this was a magnificent performance from the six-year-old who looked a picture in the paddock before the race and looks to have grown and matured since then.
A facile winner of the inaugural running of the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, Limini looked up against it with Apples Jade a gutsy winner of the Hatton’s Grade at Fairyhouse last time, beating Vroum Vroum Mag. However, she never travelled with any real zest when push came to shove in the closing stages and was fairly beaten by Limini.
The daughter of Peintre Celebre may now give her Closutton handler another selection headache with Limini installed at 8/1 for the Champion Hurdle and now the 7/4 favourite for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle suggesting joint-favourite for that race Vroum Vroum Mag may now head elsewhere.
Wherever both of Mullins’ mares end up at the Festival, this was a seriously impressive performance and she looks a mare to follow.
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