Klassical Dream (Paul Townend) in full flow© Photo Healy Racing
Klassical Dream cemented his reputation as a stayer out of the top drawer when making all under Paul Townend in the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding overcame a long lay-off when successfully stepping up to this three-mile distance at the Punchestown Festival and followed up here in great style.
The lightly-raced seven-year-old stole a number of lengths when quickly away as the tape was released, although chief market-rival Flooring Porter was always in reasonably close attendance as the pair dominated.
The remainder of the field closed up on the leading pair before the third last but the principals quickly asserted again from the penultimate flight.
Danny Mullins was hard at work on Flooring Porter from early in the straight but his mount could make no impression as the 7/4 favourite kept on strongly on the run-in to score by two lengths.
The pair stretched right away from their rivals with Burning Victory all of 21 lengths back in third.
Paddy Power and Betfair reacted by cutting Klassical Dream into 11/4 (from 4/1) for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Mullins said, “It wasn't part of the plan, we were expecting pace in the race but obviously it wasn't there. Paul said the horse took the initiative, jumped out the gate and went.
“I said to Paul 'you were doing well taking a breather in front' but he said 'it wasn't me it was the horse taking breathers' and when Danny would come he would go on. The horse took over and did everything.
“He is hard to train, he has huge ability but doesn't always give you confidence when he works. I was only hoping that things would come right today when he came here and it did.
“That's better than horses that work the house down at home and go to the racecourse and don't do it. He's just the opposite but we're getting to know him a lot more now and we trust him.”
When asked if he could go straight to the Stayers Hurdle, Mullins added “It's a possibility he could do that but we haven't made any decision yet.
“I think with the race under his belt we'd have a lot more confidence in him. While he was doing everything alright at home he didn't show us the sparkle that he shows on the racetrack.
“He has that under his belt and we're very happy now that we probably don't have to go to the well again before Cheltenham.”
(GC & AM)
