Dane proves the King for Mullins/Townend

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up to take the €50,000 Boylesports Easter Festival Handicap Hurdle with Daneking

The five-year-old son of Dylan Thomas, successful in a maiden at Navan last time, was making his handicap debut over hurdles and made good headway to lead after two out.

Townend’s mount soon took control and the 6/1 chance stayed on well on the run-in to beat long-time leader Darwins Fox by three lengths. False Economy was a further two and three quarter lengths back in third, with Bally Longford completing the placings in fourth.

Mullins said, “The ground was a big help, and we’ll look at the big two and a half miles handicap hurdle at Punchestown.

“He’s not a chaser so we may look at the Flat for him, although I don’t want to fire him up too much as we’ve been trying to get him settled over hurdles. The hood worked well today.”