High Class Hero appreciates the two mile four furlong trip© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins doubled up at Listowel when High Class Hero took the honours in the bumper in good style.
This six-year-old gelding was making stable debut off a long absence since winning a Loughbrickland point-to-point in November 2021 for Matthew Flynn O'Connor.
He cruised up alongside Great Universe and claimed him over a furlong out. In the final furlong, he drew clear to win well by six and a half lengths. Kinbara (5/2) could make no impression but plodded on for second ahead of Great Universe (5/1).
Jockey Jody Townend said: "He is a big horse - he missed out last year, but it might have stood to him as he was backward.
"He is a nice horse and might have been a bit on his head over two-miles, but he relaxed great over 2m4f today when we weren't going mad.
"He quickened well to the line and found more than I thought he would. He'll definitely be nice to go jumping."
Mullins' Easy Game won the John J. Galvin Chase on the card for the second year in a row.
In Ireland, this was Mullins' 24th winner in the last three weeks.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
