Aveen makes winning start for Crawford Princess Aveen got her head down at just the right time to edge a cracking duel with La Muleta in the Adare Manor Opportunity Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The pair fought it out for the length of the straight with long-time leader La Muleta holding a narrow advantage over the last. Princess Aveen found plenty for Alan O’Sullivan close home to pip her rival at the line and record a short-head victory at odds of 17/2. The Court Cave mare, who had won a point-to-point here in April, was making her first start for trainer Ross Crawford and her first outing since disappointing in a bumper at Wexford in May. “She was game and tough to be fair,” said Crawford. “To be fair the runner-up was tough too and that’s what made it a race. “She came there and looked like she was going to win well and I thought the runner-up was equally as game. “After she came from Ian McCarthy’s in the spring her owner Gary O’Hagan took her home for the summer. She’s back in since the end of July. “She was ready for today but I do think with a bit of match practice under her belt she’ll come on again a wee bit. “I actually had a mare in the point-to-point she won and thought she would have taken a bit of beating, and I was a bit disappointed. “When I see how well this filly works and how well she’s run today the other filly of my own is probably still okay. “They said themselves that they probably ran her back too quick in the bumper and to forget about it. “Today was the plan. I’m not one for big plans and we’ll take it one day at a time.”
