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Willie Mullins’ talented mare Dinoblue secured a first Grade 1 success when winning the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon.
The JP McManus-owned runner finished fourth in the Mares Novices Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse on her only other start at the top-level last year and has taken her form to new heights since switching to chasing back in February.
The six-year-old chestnut made a winning return to action in the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas last month and took the step up in grade in her stride when running out a convincing winner over stablemate Gentleman De Mee.
Gentleman De Mee ensured the gallop would be a strong one and quickly had a handful of his rivals in trouble, with market leader Captain Guinness making a notable mistake at the sixth fence.
Dinoblue (9/4) continued to travel strongly in the slipstream of her stablemate and comfortably moved on past before drawing clear for a commanding seven-and-a-half length success under Mark Walsh.
Saint Roi completed for third to give trainer and owner a clean sweep in the Grade 1 prize.
Race sponsor Paddy Power cut the winner from 7/2 to 11/4 for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at Cheltenham.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: "Gentleman De Mee set a great pace in front and jumped fantastic. I wondered at one stage would she (Dinoblue) be able to stay jumping with him, but she held her jumping together," said the winning trainer.
"When he took a blow, she kept galloping, and she is improving all the time. I'm very happy with that."