Easy Game leads home Mullins one-two

Willie Mullins' Easy Game made a winning start to his carer over fences by taking the beginners' chase on Leopardstown's card.

His stable-mate, Allaho raced clear throughout but third-running Easy Game had him in his sights at the fourth last.

A good jump three out took him past Walk Away and he soon closed up on Allaho.

Allaho held a narrow advantage at the last but Easy Game was ridden into the lead on the run-in by Danny Mullins.

The pair kept on best to score by a length and a quarter at 9/2 having been backed from 8/1.

Willie Mullins said: “I was expecting the other horse (Allaho) to win but Easy Game just has that little bit more speed.

“Paul (Townend) felt the other horse just needed the race. He thought maybe the next day under the same conditions he would turn the tables.

“The Dublin Racing Festival would be the obvious target for Easy Game now all being well.

“He's probably not a real winter ground horse and when he won that it tells me the ground is a lot better than a lot of people imagine.

“I'm happy that I took Al Boum Photo out now and we'll go for softer ground somewhere else.

“Allaho gallops and jumps. They could both come back here for the Flogas Novice Chase.

“We'll have to see how they all come out of Christmas and then try and plan a path where we can separate them as well.”

Easy Game won at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level over hurdles, with both coming at Navan.

Paddy Power gave him a first show of 25/1 for the Marsh Novice Chase.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson