Cousin Kate continues on an upward curve

Cousin Kate continued her rapid rate of progress by completing a hat-trick in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle, the opening race of the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

Trained by Denis Hogan for Liam Mulryan, the well-bred five-year-old was recording her fourth win over hurdles since October.

The 13/2 chance led entering the straight in this 18-runner 2m2f event and asserted approaching the final flight where she was far from fluent.

Michael Kenneally’s mount was driven out on the run-in to hold off the fast-finishing Dameauscottlestown who didn’t enjoy a clear run before the last, by three-quarters of a length. Whimsy was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third with Maxios Prime completing the places in fourth.

Hogan said, “It’s unreal, she’s an improver. It’s an emotional day as Hughie Mulryan bought her and he’s not with us today, all his family are here.

“She’s been so good and Liam Mulryan has been such a good supporter of mine since I started training. We’ve had good days and I’ve cost him a lot of money over the years as well but he’s always stuck with me and been very loyal, as have all the Mulryans. They are good friends of mine now. I’m just delighted for them and it’s good to have a filly like this in the yard.

“This year we’ve been rolling with winners but no big winners. We buy a lot of second-hand goods and it’s hard to reach these heights.

“This was well bought by Hughie off Kevin Doyle. 50 grand out of Augusta Kate, who is breeding winners galore. She was a Grade 1 winner herself, and you can’t beat breeding.

“She’ll be entered in the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham now. She’ll be roughly 130 after today so she’s earned her entry.

“She’s on the improve and with these fillies when they start to go this way you just don’t know where they’ll end up. She has breeding and you can’t beat breeding.

“I think she might have been somewhere else last season and when Liam first sent her to me he said they didn’t think a lot of her. He said to me to tell him quick enough if she was any good or not.

“I sent her down to Tramore on her third run for an unplaced maiden and I said she was at a level and she’ll be okay, and she went and won. She probably got nicely handicapped because of it and she’s done well!

“Unfortunately for Eoin Staples he’s been riding her and obviously Gavin (Cromwell) claimed him today.

“Two weeks ago I knew this could happen and I rang Gary Cribbin (agent) and told him ‘don’t give Michael Kenneally away without talking to me’. He didn’t so thanks to him.”

Quotes by Gary Carson