Burrows Saint a winning recruit for Mullins

Burrows Saint prevailed on his first start in Ireland with a game victory in Punchestown's two and a half mile maiden hurdle.

The French bred didn't score in six appearances in his homeland but delivered on his first start for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the Ricci colours.

He was there to be shot at coming to the second last with Flawless Escape and Jetez well in contention.

The winner kept finding for Walsh though and fended off Flawless Escape on the run-in by half a length.

He was well backed at the track from 11/8 to 4/5f. Flawless Escape was second best in the market (7/2) and in the race.

Jetez didn't jump the last as well as the market principals and dropped seven lengths off them in third at 9/1.

"It was a good performance from a four-year-old. He did it the hard way and made his own running,” Willie Mullins said.

“He had all the experience but it was still a good performance to jump out and make his own running.

“We'll keep him at that trip or even further. I wouldn't mind going further, although I don't particularly like doing that with four-year-olds. We'll see, he didn't look like he was stopping anyway.

“I'll leave jumping fences to next season. He handled the ground. He had the benefit of a lot more experience than some of the other horses, jumping, and he used that experience well.

“We're probably looking at Christmas now. There might be something before that but Christmas is probably soon enough for him.”

Ruby Walsh added: "He did it well. They are only four-year-olds and they went a good gallop. I'd say the first two are nice horses.

"He's a grand horse, a great jumper and he stayed really well."

This was a welcome winner for Walsh who fell in the first two races on the card.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson