Familiar Dreams set to mix and match after hurdle success Classy bumper mare Familiar Dreams (6/4f) fended off Toad Hall in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. This was another race in which very few runners landed a blow as Familiar Dreams dictated from Toad Hall over the extended two-miles-four-furlongs-trip. The leader looked to have Toad Hall's measure after two out, but Paul Townend gathered Toad Hall together and he made headway approaching the home bend. There was still a couple of lengths between them at the last, but a good jump gave Toad Hall a scent of victory. He kept coming, but ran out of rope and went down by three-parts of a length at 9/5. Again, there was a sizeable gap back to third-placed Our Soldier (20/1). Gordon Elliott said: “Sam (Ewing) said she wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way. “She jumped a lot better there today, so we’re happy. We’ll have a bit of fun with her and mix it between the Flat and jumps. “The ground is hard work and Sam said she wasn’t doing a stroke in front but it’s nice to win. “She’s in Cheltenham, but I’d imagine we’ll pick and choose where we go with her. I’ll have a chat with the boys and see. She’ll do her job on the Flat as well.” Paddy Power kept Familiar Dreams unchanged at 33/1 for the mares' novices' hurdle at Cheltenham. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
