Kel Histoire off to winning start for Willie Mullins in Mallow Maiden Hurdle

Paul Townend kept it quite simple aboard the six-year-old, who won a bumper at this venue in January 2023 but was last seen at the Punchestown festival of the same year.

WINNING START: Kel Histoire and Mark Walsh win the Mallow Maiden Hurdle. Picture: Healy Racing Photo

As part of a would-be treble for the trainer on Friday’s card in Cork, Willie Mullins introduced an exciting sort in the shape of Kel Histoire, who took the opening race, the Mallow Maiden Hurdle.

The four-year-old Masked Marvel gelding, bought for €200,000 at the Arqana Autumn sale in Deauville, was a touch untidy with his jumping, but it improved as the race progressed and by the time he crossed the line, the JP McManus-owned gelding was well on top.