Mighty Duchess had shown some very encouraging signs on her debut at Dromahane in November as she was right in contention entering the home straight only to understandably get tired in the testing underfoot conditions. She showed the clear benefit for that introduction when re-appearing a month later on better ground at Borris House. That was a steadily-run contest which put a premium on speed in the closing stages as five horses turned for home covered by no more than two lengths. Crucially she did not enjoy the smoothest of passages with her inside position on the home bend and had her momentum checked which saw her loose valuable positions that this key time at a track where it can be hard to make significant ground in the home straight. To her credit she battled very strongly to come through and take the runners-up spot. It is clear that this half-sister to last year’s Cheltenham Festival-third Mighty Stowaway is a definite winner in waiting.