Mullins reigns Supreme in Hennessy

WILLIE MULLINS saddled his sixth winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup, in seven years, when Rule Supreme easily beat Beef Or Salmon at Leopardstown yesterday.

He had previously taken the contest four times with Florida Pearl and once with Alexander Banquet. Brilliant and all as Rule Supreme was, however, the real story of the contest was the lack-lustre performance of Beef Or Salmon, who looked a shadow of the horse who won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas.

He always flies away from the back of the final fence, but was beaten before the obstacle on this occasion and it was no surprise when he subsequently scoped dirty.