'She's been a great mare' - Mrs Milner retired to stud following injury setback

Cheltenham Festival winner Mrs Milner has been retired to stud at the age of seven, having suffered an injury setback.

The Paul Nolan-trained mare memorably landed the Grade 3 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle under Bryan Cooper last year, seeing off The Bosses Oscar by five lengths at odds of 12-1.

Collecting more than £100,000 in prize-money and winning four of her 16 races, Mrs Milner had been preparing for a return to Leopardstown over the festive period before a potential tilt at Cheltenham.

As a result of the injury, she will now go to stud following consultation with her owners.

"It’s not worth the risk of bringing her back," said Nolan. "We were preparing her to go back for another crack at the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. She was very unlucky last season.

"We had plans to start her off at Leopardstown over Christmas but, due to the injury, she’d miss the season. We sat down with the owners Jim Coffey and Susan Spence, and decided that it’s best to retire her to stud."

Mrs Milner was last seen in April when finishing sixth behind Marie’s Rock in the Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, having finished third behind her at Cheltenham six weeks earlier.

Nolan said she was a consistent mare who owed connections nothing, and he hopes she can be a valuable broodmare.

"She’ll go to stud in a few weeks," said Nolan. "She’s been a great mare to us — she’s a Cheltenham Festival winner. They’re very hard to come by. She was maybe unlucky not to win there twice.

"We’ll pick a stallion for her soon and the owners are excited about the prospect of that. They bred her themselves."

Mrs Milner will join her dam, Thegirlonthehill, when her time ends at Toberona Stables.

"Hopefully they can race what she’ll breed," added Nolan. "Fingers crossed, they might produce something as good as herself."

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