15 January 2024 , 18:16
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A relative of a legendary horse trained by Willie Mullins lived up to the hype on her racecourse debut.
Maughreen is 8-1 for the Champion Bumper after she bolted up in a Punchestown bumper on Monday afternoon.
The Walk In The Park mare is from the family of Faugheen, who excelled at the Cheltenham Festival and took 11 top level races while in Mullins' care. His top record meant Maughreen's introduction to racing was highly-anticipated – and she went off the 1-2 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Flat Race.
And the result never looked in doubt, as Patrick Mullins was always travelling comfortably on Walk In The Park's offspring, who stretched out to record an 11-length winning margin.
Bookies halved her price for the Festival's only Flat contest in March, a race Mullins senior has taken on a record 12 occasions.
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"She was very impressive," Patrick Mullins reported, after dismounting the Closutton Racing Club-owned newcomer. "Her work was good, but that was probably even better than what she was doing at home. With that pedigree the owners are entitled to get more than a bit excited."
William Hill's spokesman Lee Phelps said: “Her page suggested she’d put up a big debut and Maughreen did not disappoint. Willie Mullins’ mare motored home and having initially cut her to 12-1 from 20-1 for the Champion Bumper, we laid plenty and had to shorten her further into 8-1."
Willie Mullins has won numerous trophies in jump racing (PA)Earlier, Nicky Henderson ruled Constitution Hill out of his Festival prep run – and the all-time great hurdler will not compete again before March.
A minor hold-up has robbed racing fans of the chance to see the horse, unbeaten for his Seven Barrows stable.
"We have reluctantly decided Constitution Hill won't be able to run in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of next week," he said in a statement on X.
"A routine scope last week wasn't entirely satisfactory and a follow-up this morning shows the issue hasn't resolved and therefore there would not be time to get him ready for next week.
"In the meantime he will continue with light exercise, be rescoped in a fortnight and then start his preparation for March."