Mullins at double in Punchestown with Bialystok

Bialystok came through off a fast gallop to plunder the Grade B Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle in Punchestown.

This gave Willie Mullins a quick-fire double having won the previous Grade 1 contest with odds-on favourite Facile Vega

Danny Mullins was on Bialystok and his mount made stealthy headway after two out and travelled well to challenge Telecon at the last.

Bialystok soon grabbed the lead and he was strong on the run-in as he went on by a length and three parts at 14/1. Tax For Max kept on for second at 9/1 and was a length and a half in front of Tekao (9/2f). Telecon (9/1) dropped to fourth where he completed the placings.

Willie Mullins said: “I said to Danny the main thing was to get him switched off and he did that over the first three furlongs. Then he had to work his way through the field which he did and used his speed to great effect.

“He stayed on nicely at the end which means he’ll probably stay a bit further.

“His maidens were run too slow and he was just running too free. A change of tactics worked the oracle in Naas and it was much easier then coming here to ride him like that. He’s learning all the time.

“He might come here Saturday but probably not. He could be a Galway Hurdle horse and will go back on the Flat.”

Jockey Mullins said: "We had gone a good gallop all the way. I said to Willie beforehand in the parade ring that we were going to have to make that decision, in or out between the third last and the second last.

"It worked out today, it didn't work out for me last weekend.

"I had a brave soldier and I got through a nice gap.

"We were disappointed that it took him a couple of runs to win a maiden. The way he won that today, he is probably starting to show his true potential.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee