Impaire Et Passe over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Impaire Et Passe enhanced his burgeoning reputation by dropping back in trip to readily land the odds in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins has won eight of the last 14 renewals of this race with the likes of Vautour, Douvan and Min and clearly has another smart sort on his hands.
This five-year-old French-bred gelding won his sole start in his native country before bolting up by 18 lengths on Irish debut over over an extended two and a quarter miles in Naas last month.
He travelled strongly upsides Shecouldbeanything as the pair interchanged the lead throughout. Shecouldbeanything was eager to lead and raced for the majority at the front, but she was claimed off the home bend as Paul Townend unleashed Impaire Et Passe.
The 1/3 favourite soon went for home but hadn't seen off The Model Kingdown who took closer order approaching the straight and was still in there pitching in second approaching the last.
Neither horse put in their best jump there, however, Impaire Et Passe wasn't unduly troubled in stretching away on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths. The Model Kingdom ran her race in second at 4/1.
Townend, in the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede silks, said: “He was very good, he showed a good turn of foot. As we said after Naas, he doesn't show us that at home.
“I was very happy with him there, he jumped like a buck and the only hurdle he was slow at was the last when he was in front but he picked up nicely at the back of it again.
“The worry was coming back in trip but he showed pace today.”
When asked how good he thought he was, he added: “I don't know because we can't get him to do it at home to be honest, but he keeps doing it on the track.
“I think he's very smart and he gave me a great feel today.
“I don't know if Willie normally comes here and goes to the Dublin Racing festival. I'd say this is the one instead of it, but, wherever he goes, I wouldn't mind being on his back.”
Paddy Power cut Impaire Et Passe from 8/1 to 6/1 for both the Supreme and Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
