Venusienne
Venusienne was a long odds-on shot to win the mares' maiden hurdle at Tramore on Thursday, but she couldn't have been any more impressive than she was in winning, and she will be of interest now when she steps up in grade again. Paul Townend tried to get her to take a lead, but she was so fast over the second flight that she found herself in front, and her rider just allowed her settle into her rhythm from there. That rhythm took her further and further clear of her rivals, about 15 lengths clear with a circuit to run and 27 lengths clear by the time she got around to the winning post again, in a canter.
Second in an unraced fillies' listed hurdle on her only run in France in 2023, she had her first run for Willie Mullins and JP McManus in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and she contested the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Hurdle at Fairyhouse in April on her second. She was well beaten in both races, but connections obviously thought enough of her to allow her take her chances in those races and, back in much calmer waters here, she was very good. The choice of Paul Townend in front of her stable companion Kom Tu Voudras, she was put in at a short price, and she was backed into a shorter price, 2/7 by the time the tape went up, and she justified all that support. Her jumping was very good for one so inexperienced, out on her own in front, and she could do even better with a lead. She will have no problem handling softer ground either. Out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Camelia De Cotte, she is a really exciting prospect, she will be of big interest again now when she steps up in grade.
Tramore, 9th October 2025
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