News Festival hotpot Limini back in action at Fairyhouse

Festival hotpot Limini back in action at Fairyhouse

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Limini, red-hot favourite for the inaugural running of the new mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham, reappears at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Another from the all-conquering Willie Mullins-trained and Rich Ricci-owned army, her price has steadily contracted for the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March while she has been stood in her box.

She has had just one run for Mullins in May and at the time it did not look anything out of the ordinary as she won by half a length.

However, the form has been consistently franked since, with winners coming out of the race from all angles.

"The form of her win for a May novice hurdle has worked out extraordinarily," said Joe Chambers, Ricci's racing manager. "I think the second, third, fourth, fifth and even sixth have won since.

"She was a filly we bought having shown decent form on the Flat in France, but she just took time to come to hand.

"She was let down after her run with an eye on bringing her to a peak for the new race at Cheltenham and at this stage she is all potential.

"Everyone has seen how that form has worked out and now we all get to see if she can do it on the track. She's been off a while and there's obviously a chance a lot of mares will have improved since that race.

"All we're hoping is that she keeps the dream alive."

Limini is one of seven declared for the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mares Novice Hurdle, which also features Gordon Elliott's smart Whistle Dixie.

Pat Fahy expects a different display to last time from Ten Times Better.

"She wasn't herself and didn't fire at all the last day, but Ruby (Walsh) came back in and said to write the run off straight away. The fact he didn't abuse her on the day will hopefully stand to her and we're hoping for black type," said Fahy.

"She definitely back to herself now. Were she to run well, the only thing that might put me and the owners off running at Cheltenham is that we sent her brother (Stack The Deck) to Cheltenham and he smashed his knee."