Impressive Grade 1 & 2 Wins For Walk In The Park

Ashroe Diamond (6m Walk In The Park - Saint D’Esprit, by Dom Alco) posted an impressively easy success in Sunday’s Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

A Grade 3 winner last time out, the Willie Mullins-trained mare was ruled out of Cheltenham with a setback and was sent off favourite on Sunday under Paul Townend. He rode the bay with unwavering confidence and remained motionless turning for home, despite the leader’s notable advantage. Looming large with two to jump, she was shaken up to lead at the final flight and stayed on well under hands and heels to win by five lengths.

Representing the winning team, David Casey later said, “She travelled like a dream and jumped brilliantly. She did it very easy.” Bred by Mrs JM Mullins, Ashroe Diamond carries the colours of the Blueblood Racing Club.

Mullins enjoyed further Graded success with Walk In The Park in the very next race, as Nick Rockett (6g Walk In The Park - Eireann Rose, by Flemensfirth) completed a hat-trick of wins in the Grade 2 Novice Hurdle.

Purchased privately after winning on debut for Pat Doyle, the bay won a bumper in February and followed up with a successful hurdle bow last month. Stepping up to two and a half miles on Sunday, he travelled strongly throughout under Danny Mullins and took the lead with two to jump. Shaken up soon after, he drew clear and kept on strongly to score by 15 lengths.

“That was a very good performance,” David Casey said after the race. “He travelled super and jumped great. We always had him down as a horse for the future for jumping fences. I think the best is ahead of him.”

Bred by Kieran Cotter, Nick Rockett is owned by Stewart and Sadie Andrew.