Mullins makes further inroads with 1-2

Willie Mullins made further inroads into Gordon Elliott's lead at the head of the trainer's table with a one two in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle at Punchestown. C'est Jersey (7/1), with Paul Townend up, led home the heavily backed favourite Battleford (6/4, Ruby Walsh) by three and a half lengths. Milsean picked up fourth money for the aforementioned Elliott, on his first foray for the Cullentra House Stables operator, but with blinkers tried for the initial occasion C'est Jersey returned to what he'd shown himself capable of in the past.

Mullins wouldn't exactly be known for sending out horses in head-gear and he reflected: "There's been one or two we've had to put them on (blinkers) but just thinking back on this fellow last year Ruby was riding him out at home and he thought he was a very decent horse.

"He's disappointed us all year and the other morning on the gallop David Casey rode him and he flew and I said to Ruby we're going to put blinkers on him because he's obviously well able to do it but he's just not doing it on the racetrack.

"It made a huge difference to him. He needs three miles every day of the week but the blinkers have just made that much difference to him (over two and a half miles here).

"Battleford was disappointing. He didn't hurdle fast enough at the speed they were going. He's a chaser in the making.

"Really they are two nice staying chasers for next season."

Gordon Elliott's second favourite, Minella Till Dawn disappointed, eventually pulling up. He was found to be lame subsequently.

M.J. Bolger, rider of Beyond The Obvious trained by M.M.Lynch, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having stopped very quickly.

M.P. Walsh, rider of Minella Till Dawn trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Minella Till Dawn, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame post race.

(AM & EM)