See also » Saint-Roi-fires-Mullins-to-Tipperary-double
I'm very happy with that. The race conditions suited him very well and it was a big advantage. Noel's horse (Beacon Edge) coming out was a help as well and we'll take all the help we can take at this stage of the season!. He did it nicely but he had a big advantage with the conditions of the race. Mark (Walsh) said he was meeting the last wrong and fiddled it. I think he got a bit tight for room over the third last. I was worried that he was coming off the bridle but Mark said he was just tight for room. Otherwise he was very slick with his jumping and I'm not worried on that front. That's the type of speed he shows all the time at home and his last piece of work before Cheltenham was electric. I thought going there he'd take a lot of beating. The likes of the County Hurdle are hard races to fancy horses in though. He did very well during the summer and is out early purely because this race suited conditions wise. The Morgiana would be on the agenda but that might be throwing him in at the deep end. He's a second season novice and there might be easier options. I think there is a race at Down Royal for second season novices (Grade 2 WKD Hurdle). W P Mullins, trainer

D.N. Russell, rider of Chosen Mate, trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount sustained a cut and leaned left

D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Djingle (FR), trained by John Queally, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran short of room after jumping the last

The Stewards enquired into possible interference after the last hurdle involving Chosen Mate, ridden by D.N

Russell, placed fourth and Djingle (FR), ridden by D.J. O'Keeffe, placed fifth, where it appeared Djingle (FR) ran short of room on the rail. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings but found D.N. Russell in breach of Rule 214 (Careless Riding) and having taken his record into account suspended him for 2 race days.

A hurdle for four years old and upwards
Weights - 4-y-o 10st 12lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 2lbs Mares allowed 7lbs
Penalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - to count from 1st April, 2019 Winner of two hurdle races 4lb extra Of three hurdle races or of a Grade 3 hurdle race 7lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 9lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 11lb extra