Mullins has another potential star in Pont Alexandre

On a day when his son Patrick equalled the amateur record on Union Dues in the bumper, Willie Mullins unleashed another potential star, Pont Alexandre to make an impressive Irish debut in the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle in Navan yesterday.

The four-year-old French import made every yard of the running and had odds-on favourite Don Cossack well beaten when that rival crashed at the final flight, leaving Pont Alexandre to beat Busty Brown by thirteen lengths and prove the highlight of superb 32/1 four-timer for Ruby Walsh, to follow-up his treble at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Well-supported against the favourite, Pont Alexandre dictated the pace throughout. Davy Russell, on the favourite, got lower in the saddle on the approach to the third last, and never looked likely to threaten the winner, giving Russell his third fall from as many rides yesterday.