Thousand shows he still has it

Thousand Stars made every inch of the running, as he put in a commanding performance to take the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle, providing Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with an opening race double.

The grey ten-year-old disappointed at Leopardstown in March when beaten by Sailors Warn, but he then ran a cracker in the Aintree Hurdle, finishing third to Whisper.

Sent off a 4/1 chance this afternoon, the son of Grey Risk travelled strongly into the home straight, with all his rivals off the bridle, and he powered home from after the last, scoring easily by ten lengths. Get Me Out Of Here was sent off the 5/4 favourite, and he finished second under Barry Geraghty for Jonjo O’Neill, while Upsie kept on well to take third at 8/1 under David Casey.

Willie Mullins said afterwards: "He must be a iron horse to do what he did!

"He had a very hard race at Aintree, but because of his age and the stage he is at in his career I decided to let him take his chance, and maybe I wouldn’t have done it with a young horse.

"He probably doesn’t do as much at home as he used too, so we put the cheekpieces on him, and we put a stablemate up beside him as well. Mourad (finished fifth) is coming back to himself as well.

"We got him out of a claimer in France so they are not all expensive horses.

"With Punchestown being a week later this year, it means the race in France will come a week sooner, so we might skip Punchestown and go for the Prix Barka and then the Franch Champion.

"I’ve a list of people who want him when he is retired for a hack, but I might have to jump the queue myself!"

Mullins went on to talk about Paul Townend, saying: "It is fantastic for Paul when Ruby is out, and he is getting the benefit.

"He plays second fiddle to him all season so I am delighted for him, and he has to make hay when the sun shines.

"He gave them fantastic rides, and he did nothing wrong yesterday (on Ballycasey)."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson