Boyne first for Mullins

Willie Mullins saddled a one-two in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle at Navan yesterday as Mourad, ridden by Paul Townend, turned over the Ruby Walsh-ridden 4/11 favourite Mikael D’Haguenet.

Officially rated 2lb. superior and conceding that amount of weight to his stable-companion, Mourad made a lot of the running, had the favourite in trouble before the second last flight and stayed on dourly in the extremely testing conditions to triumph by six and a half lengths, giving Mullins his first success in the Grade 2 event.

Admitting his disappointment at Mikael D’Haguenet’s display, Willie Mullins admitted: “That’s a bit of a surprise. Mourad was disappointing the last day (when third to Big Bucks in Cheltenham) and we decided to change tactics today.