Largy Hill relishes a stamina test

A step up to three miles saw Largy Hill (1/2f) readily shed his maiden tag over flights in Cork.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old gelding travelled notably well onto the heels of the leaders approaching the home bend.

He closed three out for Paul Townend, but wasn't foot perfect there. It didn't stop his momentum, though as he grabbed the initiative off Kinturk Kalanisi at the penultimate hurdle.

The son of Flemensfirth asserted racing to the last and was kept up to his work along the run-in to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths in this maiden hurdle. Oscars Brother (25/1) kept on for second from Kinturk Kalanisi (15/2).

Townend said: "He stayed nicely, travelled well and, with the ground being testing, had to do things right which he did.

"He improved from a good first run (over hurdles) and we were hoping he would improve at this distance. 

"He was professional in everything he did and stayed very nicely. That ground is hard work and when I got there, he sized up the last himself.

"I'd imagine that that is his distance, as the way he races he has no problem with three miles."

Largy Hill came home second in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Navan on his previous start. He is a former winner of a bumper at Limerick.

He scored in the 'double gree' colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes