Nolan’s mare dances to Lismullen success

Paul Nolan’s Feet Of A Dancer continued her good form from last season with an effortless victory in the Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

The Authorized mare won a Listed race at Punchestown and the Grade Two Yorkshire Rose at Doncaster last season before finishing third to Wodhooh at Cheltenham and she moved upsides long-time leader I’ll Sort That between the final two flights.

The 17-2 chance was pushed out by Sean O’Keeffe and left her rivals in her wake to come home eight lengths clear.

O’Keeffe said: “I think she was even a little bit better today, she really surprised me. We weren’t expecting that now as such, but she is improving. She’s still only a seven-year-old, so she has every right to still be improving.

“That was brilliant. I was afraid she was a bit in my hands and winging hurdles everywhere, running a bit fresh, but she had a nice blow turning in and I knew she would stay galloping. I could see the others around me starting to get a bit tired. In fairness to her, she always gallops to the line, so I was confident of that.

“We were thinking she could go up to three miles as well. Maybe she was just a bit fresh today as she was keen. She’s an improving mare and she had a crack at a Grade One last year, so maybe she can now again this year after that.

“I’d definitely say the Stayers’ Hurdle division might be worth going down this time around and she will probably relax as she goes on through the season. If she just keeps improving the way she is, hopefully she will bring us to those places.”