18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Mrs Milner returns with Limerick win

Sun 10th Oct 2021, 15:44

Mrs Milner (Bryan Cooper) reaches for the final flightMrs Milner (Bryan Cooper) reaches for the final flight
© Photo Healy Racing

Cheltenham Festival winner Mrs Milner returned to action at Limerick today as the Paul Nolan-trained mare landed the Listed Irish EBF Cailin Alainn Mares Hurdle under jockey Bryan Cooper.

Last seen when winning the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March, the daughter of Flemensfirth missed a Grade 1 Punchestown engagement due to a stone bruise in April and today returned following a 206 days break.

Jockey Cooper chased the leaders on the six year old who led approaching the second last flight and while she reached for the final flight, stayed on well to beat No Memory by a length and a half.

Nolan later commented: "She was a little bit fresh and got upset in the parade ring and you'd always be hoping you had them ready, especially with the ground being more testing.

"Bryan said he couldn't get her to shorten (her stride) and she came up outside the wings at the last. She got an awful fall at Leopardstown doing that and came up a little bit silly again today, but momentum got her over it.

"We have her back in action, she'll stay over hurdles and I genuinely think she has improved. If she improves, she has the Stayers Hurdle option and while I think she has improved, she needs to continue stepping up to reach a higher level."

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.