Mulleady and Paul Townend, in the news after a recent outing at Roscommon, made the headlines again at Ballinrobe last night when romping to an emphatic win over Via Del Corso and disappointing favourite Chiltern Hills in the Mayo Advertiser Mares Maiden Hurdle.

A treble in Cork last night brought Willie Mullins’ tally to eight winners in five days as Dare To Doubt initiated a double for former champion Ruby Walsh in the opening Dermot Casey Tree Care Hurdle before the trainer’s son Patrick partnered favourites Digeanta and Tasitiocht to victory in the two bumpers.

Paul Nicholls appears to hold a very strong hand in The Ladbroke at Ascot on December 17.

THERE’S nothing like a bit of excitement before Cheltenham and I certainly had my share with that crashing tumble aboard King Of The Refs at Naas on Wednesday.

LITTLE more than three weeks before the Cheltenham festival, champion trainer Willie Mullins was in tremendous form again at Naas yesterday, following his recent ‘nap hand’ at Punchestown with a four-timer.