Minella Cocooner gets back in the winning groove

Minella Cocooner showed the benefit of his chasing debut at Leopardstown last month when justifying favouritism in good style in the Jack Kiernans Celebrating 55 Years In Business Beginners Chase at Navan.

The Grade 1 winning novice hurdler had been off the course for over a year before his latest start and made most of the running in this three-mile event.

Those who supported the 11/10 favourite would have been happy to see Paul Townend sitting confidently from two out and the eight-year-old gelding kept on well on the run-in to beat chief market rival Senior Chief by two and three-quarter lengths. My Immortal was a further 16 lengths away in third, while Landrake made a number of mistakes and was pulled up after blundering three out.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins was represented by his son Patrick who said, “It was a huge improvement from his first run but obviously he'd had a long time off with injuries.

“He jumped spectacular there and seemed a lot more settled than he was in his hurdling days. Paul was delighted with him.”

When asked if he could be a horse for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham he added, “He's qualified now as he's had two runs and been placed over three miles. You'd definitely have to put his name in the hat for that.

“There is the Brown Advisory as well, obviously he was second in the Albert Bartlett so he has plenty of class.

“Cheltenham and the festival is a much different atmosphere than here today and he was very keen in the Albert Bartlett. He's older and more mature now though.”

Paddy Power and Betfair cut the winner into 8/1 (from 16/1) for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and 20/1 (from 50/1) for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase.

Quotes by Gary Carson