Willie Mullins and Sean O’Keeffe bounce back from Kilcruit shock with Cork treble

As well as being a great day for the Closutton team, it was an afternoon to remember for Kilworth trainer Sean O’Brien and Waterford handler Paul Kiely

Nell's Well and Mark McDonagh won the Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) for owner Pat Casey at Cork. Picture: Healy Racing

An early disappointment became a distant memory for Willie Mullins and Sean O’Keeffe as they bounced back from the defeat of 1-14 chance Kilcruit to complete a treble which included the featured Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase with Energumene.

Completing a nap hand of wins over fences and giving Mullins a remarkable 13th win in the last 15 runnings of the race, the seven-year-old had to deal with the early and mid-race attention of the smart Notebook, but did so in fine style. He might have been forgiven if that effort had taken its toll late on, but much to his credit he kept going all the way to the line to win with a considerable amount in hand.