3 for Mullins 2 for O'Keeffe on day four at Punchestown A sixteenth of the week and a treble on the day was rounded off for Willie Mullins as Sean O’Keeffe doubled up aboard El Barra in the SalesSense International Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. O’Keeffe was earlier a winner for Jessica Harrington on Rapid Response whilst Mullins was on the mark with Gaillard Du Mesnil (Paul Townend) and Asterion Forlonge (Bryan Cooper). With a couple of hurdles out here due to the low sun, only seven were jumped, and El Barra (12/1) disputed the lead early, and he led from the second and made the rest. Ridden clear before the last, El Barra had a reduced advantage inside the final furlong, keeping on close home to hold off Get My Drift by a head. “He’s done it nicely, jumped a bit left. I think he’s going to be a better horse over fences and he’ll go chasing next season,” said Mullins. “Sean is a good pilot and he was good on Galopin Des Champs for us at Cheltenham.” Owing to the low lying elevation of the sun, the Stewards granted permission for hurdles # 2 & 3 to be omitted from this race (AM & EM)
