Quickfire Double For Walk In The Park

Arctic Fly (5m Walk In The Park - Arctic Lady, by Soldier Hollow) made a smart start to her hurdle career when drawing clear to win the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

The winner of a Leopardstown bumper on debut, the Willie Mullins-trained mare was sent off favourite on her hurdle bow and made all of the running under Jack Foley. The bay had her rivals under pressure approaching the final flight and needed only minimal encouragement to lead by nine lengths on the line.

“Arctic Fly did it well,” Foley said after the race. “She settled really well and jumped great through the race. She winged the last and hit the line hard.”

Owned by Brendan O’Sullivan, Arctic Fly was bred by Edward Kearney out of a half-sister to Mullins’ former stable star Arctic Fire.

Shortly after at Perth, An Mhi (6g Walk In The Park - Bay Pearl, by Broadway Flyer) completed a quickfire double for his sire in the Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Gordon Elliott’s charge won his maiden hurdle in good style last time out and was sent off favourite to follow up under Sean Bowen. Racing prominently throughout, he asserted at the third last and was ridden out on the run-in to beat fellow Irish raider Fiveonefive (Dylan Thomas) by a length and a quarter. The pair finished 26 lengths clear on a strung-out field.

Bred by Aaron Metcalfe, the improving son of Walk In The Park is owned by Pioneer Racing, CB Woods and Christopher Donnelly.