Alelchi remains unbeaten over fences

Alelchi Inois remained unbeaten over fences after his third start over the larger obstacles. The 8/11 shot took the Guinness Harp Novice Chase at Galway to become Willie Mullins and Paul Townend's third winner of the Festival.

Alelchi Inois and Starkie dominated this two mile one furlong event and the former went away from the back of the last to beat 20/1 chance Howwoulduno by thirteen lengths.

The aforementioned Starkie filled the third spot, fifteen lengths adrift. Mullins said:

"He was very good and it was lovely to see him jump very economically.

"It was great to see him do that around Galway with a view to future years though he's not likely to have a nice handicap mark after that.

"Having said that he's built to carry weight and though opportunities might be harder to find now we'll keep him to the Festivals – Killarney and Listowel.

"Good ground is good for him but he's versatile and he'll stick to shorter trips for the time being."

Meanwhile Townend said: "He was very good and he jumped super – my only scare was at the first.

"He's a fine big stamp of a horse – a real chaser." (TW & EM)