Pride Of The Parish different class

Pride Of The Parish made all under Patrick Mullins and sauntered home clear in the opening two and a half mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown.

The 1/3 favourite had his rivals burned off jumping the last, and was kept up to his work when pushed out by Mullins to score by 13 lengths for his father Willie.

“He did it nicely. Unfortunately his owner Archie O’Leary is having his Christmas party at Mallow today so I ran him at the wrong track!” Willie Mullins said.

“We’ll keep him going in staying novice hurdles although he is going to be a chaser down the road. He’s particularly at home on this heavy ground.”

Pride Of The Parish’s previous outing this season came over course and distance on November 18 when second to Road To Riches beaten two and a quarter lengths.

The eight-year-old son of Flemensfirth was an odds on winner of his bumper at Limerick last December and was fully expected to do his job today which he did with the minimum of fuss. Jennies Jewel for Jarlath Fahey and Ian McCarthy took second at 12/1 from 14s while Futuramic (14/1) finished third with Robbie Colgan in the saddle.

Pride Of The Parish has been introduced at 33/1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, with bookmaker Stan James.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)