Butler & Mullins combine for Optical success

Optical Confusion made the long journey from south Kilkenny worthwhile for connections, as he justified plenty of market support in the PepsiCo Maiden Hurdle.

Successful in a bumper at Killarney last August, the Michael Butler trained was last seen finishing sixth in a strong maiden hurdle at the Galway Festival.

Available at 9/2 in early shows, the bay victor touched 10/3 on-course, before going off a 2/1 chance in the colours of owner Anthony Coughlan.

Second in the early stages, he improved to lead from the fourth, and despite wandering approaching two out, he kept on well under pressure, going on to score by three and three parts of a length. Colwinston finished second at 7/1 under Roger Loughran for Suzy Barkley, while the 11/8 favourite Anytime Now was another three lengths back in third.

Mullins said afterwards: "I could feel him hanging on me a bit the whole way. I trusted him probably a little too much, I should have had a better hold of him - my fault, not the horse's.

"He was in front a long way out and was entitled to have a look around. His future is over fences, he is brilliant to jump.

"He's a nice horse and the ground is ideal for him, good and quick. When he gets a fence he'll be a good horse."

Additional report by Michael Graham