Monty bolts up on debut for Mullins

On the go since his three-year-old days and beginning life with his fourth trainer, Our Monty put up arguably the best performance of his career to easily register his fifth success under Rules (to add to a point-to-point win) on his debut for Willie Mullins. Ruby Walsh rode the 2/1 favourite and he won the Joseph Ribcoff Handicap Hurdle by a very easy five lengths.

Mullins said: "I was worried about the ground. I'd imagine he is still a novice over fences but he is handicapped over them too so we'll put him in a handicap now over a trip. There is another National coming up, the one at Cork, and that could be an option.

"He looks an exciting recruit to the yard and we bought him privately after he failed to sell at Doncaster in August. I saw him when he won at Ballinrobe and I thought he looked a nice type and of course he had a nice pedigree (by Montjeu out of She's Our Mare). Hurricane Fly is by Montjeu too and though some say that they don't jump, we've had good experiences with them."