The Nice Guy keeps surprising Mullins

Unbeaten The Nice Guy grabbed his second Grade 1 victory in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Last month's Albert Bartlett tracked Minella Cocooner who jumped to his left throughout, before switching out to mount his challenge between the third last and the penultimate flight.

The Nice Guy (15/8f) travelled powerfully under Paul Townend and was kept wide turning for home.

He picked off stablemate Minella Cocooner in the straight and took a few length out of that rivals at the last. He idled on the run-in but picked up in the closing stages to repel a game Minella Cocooner (9/2) by three parts of a length. Meet And Greet (33/1) was five lengths further adrift in third.

Willie Mullins said: “He totally surprises us and wouldn’t win any sort of race at home on our gallop but he loves it on grass on the track. He keeps surprising us.

“There is not a lot of condition on him, he’s a light-framed horse and doesn’t take much training. He’s a unique specimen in his own way.

“He’s the exact opposite of a morning glory. He does it in the afternoon which is tremendous.

“I was a little surprised he went on at the second last but Paul said he didn’t want to get caught on the inside at the last bend. I think he was idling in front.

“The first two will go chasing next season.”

Paul Townend added: "He is a very good ride. In fairness to him, he keeps winning. He's a lovely horse and was well on top in the end, he wasn't killing himself.

"If I had stayed in (at the back of the third last), I would have had to commit that far out and I'm not sure the horse in front (Minella Cocooner) was going to jump to his left when he knew I was coming down inside him.

"He (Minella Cocooner) is a good stayer as well. As it turned out, mine idled and I could have done with a bit of company. Once he heard Danny come back at him, he found plenty."

Paddy Power made The Nice Guy 5/1 from 8/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at next year's Cheltenham Festival.

He is now five from five.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee