'Let me at it' - high class hurdler moves Mullins to 20

Willie Mullins' all-conquering yard will go cold turkey with no entries in the coming days but today concluded the Christmas period with 20 winners, as high-class James Du Berlais' (1/4f) landed Fairyhouse's McInerney Beginners Chase.

Ridden by owners Simon Munir and Isaac Suede's retained jockey Daryl Jacob, seven-year-old James Du Berlais made all and jumped well in a rout of five rivals, beating runner-up Capilano Bridge by 15 lengths.

Mullins, whose next entries are at Naas on Sunday, attended Tramore and in Meath jockey Jacob reported “he’s a great jumper but I haven’t ridden a Willie Mullins horse that fresh for a long time. He’s been off the track for a long time and he was fresh under me all the way.

“When he sees a fence he says 'let me at it'. He takes them on and at a couple of fences he’s got in deep, so I’ve tried to educate him. He was a very good horse over hurdles and it’s good to have him back again.

“He’s had a nice blow going down to the last but when I gave him a little squeeze he’s winged the last and gone away nicely. He could be really exciting over two and a half or three miles. He’s got plenty of pace.”

James Du Berlais had previously finished second three times at Grade 1 level over hurdles and was beaten a short-head and short-neck on two occasions at Auteuil in 2020.

Quotes from Alan Magee