The Willie Mullins trained current Supreme Novice Hurdle ante-post favourite Vautour was made work hard to justify 1/4 favouritism in the featured Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown today, winning under Paul Townend.

Townend filled in for stable jockey Ruby Walsh, in action in Kempton, and the former Champion Jockey needed to ask Vautour serious questions when challenged by Western Boy under Davy Russell, at the last. Vautour was headed narrowly and briefly on the run-in but battled gamely to record a three parts of a lengths win.

Afterwards Mullins stated “he idled going to the last and fiddled it but when Paul asked him he felt he had plenty in the tank.

“He pulled hard which used up petrol but as he goes up in grade, they'll go faster which will help. He'll come on from that and I loved the way he fought back when he looked beaten.

“I'd imagine he'll have another run before Cheltenham but I don't know where or over what distance. He looks a real chaser in the making and that's where his future is.”

Bookmaker reaction differed slightly with Paddy Power leaving Vautour unchanged as the 8/1 favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham with www.racebets.com pushing him out to 10/1 from 8s (having been 33/1 with that firm last Saturday).

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee.