Baby Kate makes every post a winning one in first at Limerick Brian Hayes made every yard of the running on the Willie Mullins trained Baby Kate to win the opening racingtv.com Mares Hurdle at Limerick. A maiden winner at Naas in December 2024, the Gorm Agus Ban Syndicate owned mare failed to add to that success in four subsequent starts. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces here, the evens favourite led throughout under Hayes, finding plenty when pressed by main rival Blue Waters early in the straight. Keeping on strongly from the back of the last, Baby Kate scored by two-and-a-quarter lengths at the line. Patrick Mullins said: "Brian was adamant he wanted to be positive on her and while she isn't the most natural jumper, has lots of ability. She would ideally prefer longer and we had her in the three-miler at Kelso yesterday but felt this looked a better opportunity. "I think she will probably be retired after that as there is no obvious place for her to go and she has got her blacktype success and other wins. Kevin Doyle (owner/breeder and ex-Irish footballer) kindly leased her to us and I'm sure he is looking forward to breeding from her now." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
