Colreevy stepped up to win an eventful edition of the Grade One Matchbook Betting Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare (5/1) eventually got the better of Pencilfulloflead in a stirring finish to the two and a half mile contest, which changed dramatically when odds-on favourite Asterion Forlonge crashed out of proceedings soon after halfway.
Danny Mullins decided to take the bull by the horns approaching the third-last fence and his mount was extremely game in the very testing conditions.
She made a shuddering mistake two out and Pencilfulloflead was handed the initiative but to Colreevy's credit she fought back valiantly on the run for home and held a half-length advantage at the line.
The sponsors cut the winner to 6/1 from 12s for the new Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at Cheltenham in March.
Colreevy was taking her chasing record to two from two, and the winning rider said: “It was a good performance. She was always very good to jump at home from day one, and the aim today was a clear round and hopefully we’d be in the mix down over the last two.
“I knew she’d keep galloping – she is very tough, not fast – and once Paul (Townend, on Asterion Forlonge) fell, it opened things up.
“But it still wasn’t going to be easy from there – when the other horse (Pencilfulloflead) joined her it definitely helped.
“There is a good programme for mares nowadays, and the Flynns (owners) will be delighted because they will probably breed from her and she is now a Grade One winner in bumpers and over fences.”
