Whiteout jumps the last ahead of Valyssa Monterg© Photo Healy Racing
Willies Mullins dominated the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown as Whiteout led home Valyssa Monterg and Gitane Du Berlais to give the champion trainer a 1-2-3.
Whiteout came into contention on the inner at the second last. She raced in third on the home turn just behind Gitane Du Berlais and Valyssa Monterg.
However, on the run to the last Danny Mullins switched Whiteout left and she showed rapid acceleration to hit the front jumping the final flight.
She didn't put in her best jump there but was ridden out to readily see off Valyssa Monterg by three and three quarter lengths.
The winner was a 13/2 chance while the runner-up was 7/1. Gitane Du Berlais went off the 8/11 favourite but had no answers on the run-in and had to settle for third. She was beaten six and a half lengths by the winner.
Danny Mullins said: "That's not a bad start! It's a bit of a difference going from Paul Hennessy with one horse to Willie who has over 150.
"She's very tough. She was able to quicken through the gap and quicken for me in the straight. It's nice to have a willing partner."
This gave Mullins a double as he also booted home Thywillbedone in the first for Paul Hennessy.
Willie Mullins added: "The way the race was run everyone seemed to want to take on Gitane Du Berlais, cooking her goose and their own goose.
"The other two mares picked up the pieces and I believe soft ground is key to Whiteout.
"Gitane Du Berlais will go chasing, we will mix it with her this season.
"I was a bit disappointed with her but I think it was tactics really. She probably needed it a bit, will improve a lot and is in the same mares' race at Carlisle that I might look at for Vroum Vroum Mag."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
