Klassical Dream very smooth on chasing debut

Willie Mullins' Klassical Dream made a very taking transition to fences in the beginners' chase over 2m6f at Thurles.

The prolific Grade 1 winner over flights made all for Paul Townend and, in truth, it was very difficult to find any fault in his chasing debut. Digby attempted to make a race of it by moving closer in second at the third-last, however he wasn't fluent at the next and came off the bridle swinging for home.

Another lovely leap at the final fence saw Klassical Dream saunter home by nine and a-half lengths to justify 1/4 favouritism. Digby came home a remote second at 4/1 with another nine-and-a-half-length gap back to Gold Bullion (10/3).

Townend said: "We'd have been disappointed if we were beaten, but he was foot-perfect everywhere. He was quick getting from A to B and behaved himself relatively well as well, so maybe he has grown up.

"I never had to interfere as he was lining up his fences from 10 strides away and I only had to encourage him and not fall off. He was good and clever and was able to sort himself out at fences as well, which was a nice thing to take from it.

"He achieved a lot over hurdles and was a high-class horse to be going chasing. He had done plenty schooling and has taken to it really well. He hasn't a million miles on the clock either and has loads of fire in his belly."

Klassical Dream posted seven Grade 1 success over hurdles including the last three renewals of the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Paddy Power halved Klassical Dream from 20/1 to 10/1 for the National Hunt Chase and made him 14/1 from 20/1 for the Brown Advisory and 14s from 25/1 for the Turners.

Later in the afternoon, trainer Mullins reported "you could see Klassical Dream was probably a third or fourth-season novice the way he jumped because he was very efficient. I had been trying to go over fences with him for the past couple of years but he had little mishaps which would have meant he'd miss half the season.

"We bided our time and this year he has been 100% and let's hope he stays that way now.

"He is a Supreme Novice winner and we know he has plenty of stamina so you could go any trip with him. We'll look at Christmas for him as it is nice timing-wise."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes