Facile Vega opens Mullins' Punchestown account Willie Mullins' Facile Vega overcame a blunder at the third-last flight to land the Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle in good style. The 4/6 favourite was keen in the early in the early stages in the hands of Paul Townend, but travelled well on the heels of stablemate, keen-running Diverge, racing to three out. He plunged at it and it set him alight as he soon swept upsides Diverge before the next. He touched down in front with another stablemate, Il Etait Temps, looming large on his outer as Diverge weakened quickly. Facile Vega was going much the better than his challenger entering the home straight and increased his lead jumping the last. Il Etait Temps didn't meet it on the perfect stride and Facile Vega stormed away on the run-in to win decisively by seven and a-half lengths from the 100/30 runner-up. Townend said: "I thought we were going quick enough - Patrick's (Mullins on Diverge) was doing plenty in front and, whether it was in front or where I was, I was going to go my gallop. "Bit of a fright at the third-last, but he lengthened well down the straight for me again. "We got it right today and he showed the true horse. He's maturing away as well. "I'd imagine so (go chasing next season). Like you saw at the third-last, he had a little guess at it. I think when he does get a bigger obstacle in front of him, his jumping will come into its own then." Mullins said: “I’ve always thought the world of him, he has huge ability and I’m looking forward to him going over fences next year. “Paul thinks that he doesn’t have much respect for hurdles and he could always do that type of thing even schooling at home. He thinks he’ll have far more respect for fences. “I said to Paul to be very positive on him because he has a huge, long stride. He gallops and is able to quicken off that. “His pedigree would suggest he can go out to three miles any day of the week and I know he has enough pace to go two miles so we will let the horse tell us as he learns the game in the autumn.” This was Facile Vega's second Grade 1 of the season having landed the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He also has two Grade 1 bumpers from Cheltenham and Punchestown in his locker. Paddy Power cut Facile Vega from 8/1 to 11/2 for the Arkle and from 20/1 to 12/1 for the Champion Hurdle. Additional reporting by Alan Magee
