Baby Kate flies home to upset stablemate Karoline Banbou

Listed-class bumper winner Baby Kate sprouted wings close home to deny better-fancied stablemate Karoline Banbou in the Gener8 Engineering Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas.

The event she won at Cheltenham last November could hardly have worked out any better, with multiple winners emerging, but on her only other outing at Aintree in April, she disappointed when favourite for a Grade Two event.

As a result, Karoline Banbou, who had Grade One form in bumpers in France, was sent off the 1-2 favourite under Mark Walsh in the JP McManus colours.

The market leader looked set to land the odds as well after, having finally seen off Qualimita following a protracted battle, she began to gain the upper hand.

But in a race which saw in-running betting carnage, Baby Kate then began to motor home down the centre of the track for Brian Hayes and the 4-1 chance won by a length and a quarter, with Belle The Tigress back in third for Rachael Blackmore, following her earlier second on Slade Steel on her first day back.

“That was great, she looked beaten but once she pulled out and got daylight, Brian said she just got her second wind and away with her,” said Mullins, who had earlier won Slade Steel’s race with Lecky Watson.

“I’m very pleased with her because I think the other mare is good, two nice mares first and second.

“At this stage of the year, everything has to step up into graded company, there’s not much left, but it’ll be after the New Year.”

Hayes, who was also on board for her Cheltenham win, said: “I thought we were booked for third to be honest and going out, the lads said they’d be happy with third, but then she took off.

“She jumped great for her first go, remember she’s not a point-to-pointer, and I’d say she’s quite useful.

“She’s out of a Grade One winner in Augusta Kate, who was out of a Grade One winner in Feathard Lady, so you can’t beat breeding.”