Spindleberry breezes to Doncaster success

Spindleberry remains unbeaten over fences having made the trip from Ireland to Doncaster worthwhile with victory in the Sky Sports Racing Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares’ Chase.

The seven-year-old was one of two runners for trainer Willie Mullins, and with stablemate Fun Fun Fun ridden by her owners’ retained rider Bryony Frost, it was Danny Mullins who took the ride on his second contender.

Spindleberry went off the 6-5 favourite after four prior successes over fences, one of which came at Grade One level against geldings, and at Listed level against mares only she made light work of proceedings to stroll to a six-and-a-half-length triumph from Lucy Wadham’s Telepathique.

Danny Mullins said: “It’s just fortunate that I get to ride her again.

“Plan A went out the window when the tapes dropped, but we ended up making it down to the first and riding on feel after that. Willie’s drilled that into all of us, feeling the rhythm and keep going.

“She’s a fine mare, plenty of scope, gallops strong but I thought they’d go a better gallop today.

“She’s been running against geldings in Grade One’s in Ireland where we jump out and go so she was keen enough to get down to the first fence and Willie’s chat from beforehand went out of the window.

“A mare with her ability and power, you just find a rhythm on her and let her find her feet.

“I was glad Telepathique came around me and led me most of the way around and it was smooth sailing, another step on the journey to hopefully bigger things.

“When she’s made that mistake (at the 10th fence) her concentration was back to 100 per cent.

“Just keep her going somewhere that Paul Townend isn’t!”