Stable’s lesser lights help Mullins to a day one clean sweep

Willie Mullins enjoyed a clean sweep of the Grade 1 events on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival, but some second-string representatives were called upon to help deliver the treble in front of a record opening-day crowd of 20,214.

Having been successful aboard Felix Yonger in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December, jockey Danny Mullins renewed his association with the gelding in the Boylesports Champion Chase and he produced the nine-year-old with a similarly well-judged ride to land the feature for the Mullins stable.

Originally the outsider of three Mullins runners, but subsequently supported into 5-1, he was a touch outpaced early but the strong gallop ensured his stamina was called into play at the business end.