How to Make Your Mark

Gigginstown House and Davy Russell started a day filled with promise with a facile victory for unbeaten Make Your Mark in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 4/5 favourite (backed in from evens) has now won a point-to-point, a bumper and a hurdle race and looks a tremendous addition to the jumping ranks.

Russell sat the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old gelding in second as Mystic Desir cut out the pace. When this one jumped violently right and was pulled up by Robbie Power Make Your Mark was tanking along at the head of affairs.

At the second last he put in a superb jump to take several lengths out of the pack and from there coasted home from his 16 rivals to win by 10 lengths from 7/2 second favourite Competitive Edge 25/1 shot Heaney came home third another 13 lengths away.

Trainer Willie Mullins said: “Davy was very pleased with him. I told him not to worry if there was no pace as could make his own way home. He’ll go the novice hurdle route.

“We were afraid earlier in the season that he would be too keen but he does seem to settle in his races.

“He’ll move up the pecking order after that. He doesn’t do anything flashy at home but when you ask him a question he answers it.

“I thought he might be more of a stayer but he shows more class than I thought.”

Sean Graham make the winner a 10/1 shot for the Neptune Investments Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Michael Graham