Sa Majeste puts in a good jump at the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
Sa Majeste (11/2) landed the Party Time Hurdle in Limerick to give Willie Mullins four winners on the day so far.
This was his third victory at Limerick following on the heels of Judicieuse Allen (6/5f) and Hauturiere (11/10jf), with Dinoblue (9/4) grabbing Grade 1 success in Leopardstown.
Grand National winner Noble Yeats went on over this 2m4f assignment, but his three rivals were still very much in touch approaching the straight.
The leader fluffed two out and was passed by Sa Majeste on his outer. A lovely jump at the last sealed it for Sa Majeste who outgunned Noble Yeats (10/11f) by four and a-half lengths.
Jockey Simon Torrens said: "He can be keen and I had it in my head that Noble Yeats might want to go on to use his stamina, so thought there was no point in cutting each other's throats. He relaxed lovely and jumped well.Â
"We didn't go very hard on the conditions which are atrocious out there and, in fairness, he answered every question I asked him."
Emmet Mullins said of Noble Yeats: "He took a blow, needed it and hopefully that gets the season going and we can target the spring festivals on better ground. He ran his race, was bang there to the second-last hurdle, which he missed, but took a blow after that and needed the run.
"Hopefully there is more to come with him.
"It didn't work going for the Gold Cup and taking in both it and the (English) Grand National last year, so I'm thinking about the Grand National moreso this year.
"Today's race was over 2m4f and on that ground it will leave it's mark on him, so we won't be rushing him back."
Paddy Power gave Sa Majeste a first show of 40/1 for the Stayers' Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
