Stars sparkles in Mullins four-timer

WILLIE MULLINS continued in superb form when completing a magnificent four-timer at Punchestown yesterday, highlighted by Thousand Stars’ all-the-way win in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh, fresh from his memorable victory on Kauto Star at Haydock on Saturday, provided Mullins with three of his winners, So Young, Thousand Stars and Dare To Doubt while trainer’s son Patrick was on board bumper-winner Make Your Mark, also the third leg of a treble for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.

Thousand Stars proved more than an able deputy for reigning champion hurdler and stable-companion Hurricane Fly in the Morgiana, dictating the pace and stretching clear on the approach to the final obstacle to slam Oscars Well by five and a half lengths, with Pittoni third.