Mullins dominates Fairyhouse card
Willie Mullins was the man to follow at Fairyhouse as he notched a near 4-1 treble highlighted by the victories of Mikael D’Haguenet and Sir Des Champs.
Mullins had made no secret of the regard in which he held Mikael D’Haguenet during his novice hurdling days, but a switch to fences last term failed to yield the expected success, with five Grade One chase outings ending in defeat.
He made his seasonal return over the smaller obstacles for the Trinity Motor Neuron Disease Research Hurdle and punters had evidently not lost confidence in the seven-year-old as he was sent off the even-money favourite.
Mikael D’Haguenet rewarded that faith with what was ultimately a comfortable victory, but it looked to be a far from straightforward task when Head Of The Posse surged away from the last.
Paul Townend was merely biding his time though, and gave his mount the signal to emerge a length-and-a-half victor.
Mullins said: “That’ll do wonders for the horse. It’s his first win since the spring of 2009. He enjoys jumping hurdles and that’ll give him plenty of confidence. We’ll try to find a similar type of contest now and build him back up.
“The conditions of today’s race suited him perfectly and hopefully he can find his real form again now.
“He won’t run in the Hatton’s Grace tomorrow. I only left him in there on the slight off-chance of this meeting today being called-off.”
Sir Des Champs was the 2-7 favourite for on his fencing bow in the Johnny Lumley “Arkle Groom” Lifetime Achievement Beginners Chase.
The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding won the conditional jockeys’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March and Davy Russell oozed confidence in this extended two-mile-five-furlong event.
Only Gran Torino put up any real challenge but Sir Des Champs asserted at the second-last to score by eight and a half lengths.
“He jumped very economically and efficiently,” said Mullins.
“We’ll get him out for something at Christmas. He’s well entered up – he is in everything. He could go over longer, though I don’t like running them over three miles too soon.
“He could learn a lot going back over two miles at Leopardstown (Racing Post Novice Chase on St Stephen's Day). He’s a nice prospect to look forward to.”
Toostrong (4-5 favourite) had earlier scored for the same connections in the first division of the Fairyhouse Premier Jump Weekend Maiden Hurdle.
The four-year-old was a dual bumper winner in France last year and made a perfect start for Mullins as he prevailed by a length and three-quarters in the hands of Russell.
“In time he’ll want a much longer trip. It was a slow muddling race and he didn’t jump as well as he can,” Mullins said.
“I think he’s a stayer more than anything else. He is a huge big horse and he is crying out for fences next year.”
