Maze Connections Consider Ascot

Asian Maze could make an appearance at Royal Ascot this summer after an impressive all-the-way success in the Whitewater Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown.

The seven-year-old followed up on her recent win at Aintree as she made all under Ruby Walsh to justify odds of 8-13 favourite in the three-mile race.

Although trainer Tom Mullins views Asian Maze as a Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle candidate, he is also considering a brief switch back to the Flat at the Royal meeting in June.

He said: 'People keep talking about next year but this is where we were last year and thanks to injury we never got anywhere until Aintree. I'll just be pleased if she stays away from injury.

'Ruby thinks she is not a staying mare but a Champion Hurdle mare. The most likely thing is that we give her a couple of runs over two miles next season, maybe in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, and then we see where we stand.

'She might just go for the French Champion Hurdle before then, or even the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot but we'll have to see how she is.

'It's just a thought at the moment.'

Bookmakers are at odds over her prospects for next season, with Ladbrokes offering 10-1 and Boylesports just 4-1 about her prospects for the World Hurdle.

Both firms offer 12-1 about Asian Maze dropping back to two miles and winning the Champion Hurdle.

Another Mullins had been in the winner's enclosure earlier in the day as Willie Mullins sent out Quatre Heures to take the tote.ie Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Responsible for three of the eight runners, Mullins looked likely to dominate the finish as 9-4 favourite Mister Hight and the winner were disputing the lead.

However, Mister Hight came to grief at the last leaving Quatre Heures to coast home by eight lengths under Mick Fitzgerald who was a late replacement for the injured David Casey.

Mullins said: 'I have to thank David as he gave instructions to Mick before the race and my job was done.

'David has not had the best 18 months but hopefully he'll be back on him for the Alain du Breil at Auteuil (on June 17).

'I'll definitely take him there and Mister Hight as well. I jogged Mister Hight up. He was stiff in his shoulder but seemed OK and I was thrilled with the way they both ran.'

Accordion Etoile bounced back to his best to give trainer Paul Nolan a first Grade One success in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.

The long-time ante-post favourite for the Arkle Trophy fluffed his lines at Cheltenham when crashing out at the eighth fence before a mistake at Aintree knocked him out of contention in the Maghull Novices' Chase.

But, not to be defeated, Nolan has schooled the seven-year-old extensively in the last two weeks and it paid off as the well-backed 9-4 chance accounted for 13-8 favourite Justified by two and a half lengths.

Nolan said: 'The wheels are back on the bike and he's got a Grade One under his belt now.

'He travelled super and jumped so quickly. I said to John the number one priority was to get round and it all came down to the last and we just got away quicker.

'He's schooled over hurdles since Aintree and we've always thought he was a natural jumper.

'The Champion Chase (at Cheltenham next season) is the plan and hopefully he will get his good ground there.'

Enda Bolger's love affair with the banks course continued as the Nina Carberry-ridden Good Step gave the trainer his ninth consecutive success in the Blue Square Chase (for the La Touche Cup).

His stable stalwart Spot Thedifference was sent off the 6-4 favourite for the unique marathon race but the 13-year-old lost all chance when getting caught up in an incident at the sixth-last obstacle.

But Bolger and JP McManus still had a supersub in the shape of 11-2 shot Good Step, winner of the race last year, who avoided the carnage on the final circuit to lead on the run to the last and score by a length and a half from I'm On The Line.

Bolger said: 'That was my ninth win in a row and it was unbelievable. I was watching Nina in the bumper on Wednesday and she is a different class.

'I thought she was going backwards at the double bank but she got onto the inner and her strength in a finish is something else.'

McManus added: 'He did it well and outstayed the rest of them.

'I thought he was done at the last but he responded to Nina's urgings and kept going.'

? PA Sport