Home By The Lee and Danny Mullins © Photo Healy Racing
Home By The Lee galloped his rivals into submission to reclaim the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding travelled sweetly to lead over the second last in the Grade 2 contest and was followed through by the four-year-old Eagle Fang
He started to edge away from that rival down to the second last as 11/8 favourite Bob Olinger tried in vain to make inroads.
Home By The Lee stayed on strongly, for Danny Mullins, on the run-in to post a three-and-a-half length victory over last year's winner.
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Home By The Lee gets the better of Bob Olinger at Navan
It was a repeat of the 2022 result when Home By The Lee had prevailed from his old rival in the two-and-a-half mile contest.
O'Brien said: "He ran well in the race the last couple of years and he was a good bit better off at the weights this year.
"It is very much his first run of the year, but I thought he really went through the race well and jumped well. Danny was impressed with him.
"I couldn't be happier.
"We always keep him fresh, so we will wait for Christmas (Hurdle at Leopardstown) now and then he will go from Christmas to Cheltenham. His path kind of plots itself."
Betfair made the winner a 16/1 shot (from 25/1) for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
