Benie Des Dieux (8/11 out to evens), unbeaten when staying on her feet since joining Willie Mullins, put in an impressive display in the Grade Two John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran.

Doubling up for Susannah and Rich Ricci, and Mullins, after the win of the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Aione in the preceding heat, Benie Des Dieux took over from three out.

Pace setter Apple’s Jade (15/8 into 11/8) cried enough at that stage, brought to a halt by Davy Russell before the next.

Paul Townend enjoyed a great spin on Benie Des Dieux, and she extended away from the second last to beat stable companions Penhill and Killultagh Vic by twenty one lengths and seventeen lengths.

Following on from her French Champion Hurdle win 250 days earlier, Benie Des Dieux not surprisingly delighted Townend who said: “She’s deadly.

“I suppose Apple’s Jade probably under-performed compared to her Leopardstown run. Today I was able to travel everywhere behind her, though I was in front way too long.

“She took me there and I was at my ease doing it.

“Danny (Mullins on Killultagh Vic) kept him honest (Davy Russell on Apple’s Jade) the whole way. Danny’s just keeps galloping so he was always going to do that.

“It’s a joy to get this one back on the track and she’s been very good to me.

“Her class probably gets her through on better ground but she really comes into her own on that testing ground.”

Paddy Power go evens favourite from 6/4 about Benie Des Dieux for the Mares Hurdle, and 8/1 from 14/1 on the mare for the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

“Obviously Apple’s Jade didn’t fire on the day but I thought my mare put in as good a performance as she ever did in her life," stated Mullins.

“Paul couldn’t believe how well she was going at the second last and he said the race was over in a couple of strides.

“She went to France last summer and beat their unbeaten mare over there in the French Champion Hurdle. She could be better than any mare that I’ve trained.

“She’s a three-mile mare rather than a two-mile mare. You’d seriously have to look at the Stayers Hurdle after that performance.

“She’d like a bit of cut in the ground so it will depend on the weather and the fact that the Mares’ Hurdle is earlier in the week could be a factor (for more ease in the ground).

“I did a bit of work with her about ten days ago and we thought she was in tip-top order.

“The Galmoy wasn’t on the agenda but we said we’d enter without committing her. She was showing us all the right signs and it was a home game for us so we said we’d let her take her chance.”

For the Mares Hurdle it's 4/5 (from 6/4) with BoyleSports on Benie Des Dieux and 11/10 (from 6/4) with Betfair.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Apple's Jade (FR), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

D.N. Russell, rider of Apple's Jade (FR) trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and was pulled up thereafter.

(AM & EM)