THE Willie Mullins team supplied the winners of all three graded events at Fairyhouse on Sunday, the first leg coming with Ballycasey in the Normans Grove Chase, continuing his handler's excellent record in that Grade 2 contest.

The County Carlow trainer had won five of the previous seven renewals of the race and his charge was sent straight to the front by Ruby Walsh, with only Flemenstar for company for much of the way. Ball D'Arc was sent off 6/5 favourite in his bid for a four-timer and Gordon Elliott's six-year-old laid down a challenge after the last, but the 15/8 winner had enough in hand to hold his younger rival by half a length.

Mullins said: "He's found his mojo again. We were trying to make a stayer out of him but he obviously enjoys going a shorter trip and using his jumping. He's got his confidence back.

"I wish the Topham was another fortnight or three weeks away. It was either there or here, and we chose here. Hopefully he will run in Punchestown and he will probably have to go for the Grade 1 (Boylesports Champion Chase).

"He was third in the Galway Plate last year, and that's a possible target again this year. He might not be as well in this year as last year!"

RIGHT CHOICE

Ruby Walsh chose the right one of the Mullins quartet as he partnered Bleu Berry to victory in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.

His stablemate Montalbano blazed a trail under Danny Mullins in the Grade 2 contest but was challenged by Outspoken and the winner approaching the last and the trio jumped it in a line together.

The 2/1 favourite put in a better leap and stayed on strongly to record a two-and-a-quarter-length verdict over Outspoken, who was a first comeback ride for Barry Geraghty after he was forced to miss the Cheltenham Festival through injury.

Mullins said: "He's improving with every run and he'll probably head to Punchestown next and go novice chasing next season. He could go out to two and a half miles (at Punchestown), but we'll decide closer to the time when we see what we have."

SECOND STRING

Invitation Only looked the likely one to bring up the Mullins treble but the 11/10 favourite proved disappointing as his stablemate Al Boum Photo took the Grade 2 Easter Festival April 16th-18th Novice Hurdle.

The favourite travelled smoothly into contention but weakened very quickly after the second-last, while Al Boum Photo (10/1) stayed on well to take it up from Stand Up And Fight at the final hurdle and went on to pull four length clear of that rival under Paul Townend.

Geraghty suffered a fall from Any Second Now but appeared none the worse as he was quickly to his feet.

Mullins said: "That was a great performance. Paul said he was very green and wanted every inch of it (two and a half miles). We will probably move him up to three miles at Punchestown.

"He's learning all the time. Jumping is his game and he'll go chasing next season. I was hoping he would go well, but that is better than I thought he was at this stage of his career.

"I haven't spoken to Ruby yet but Invitation Only moved nicely into the straight and then went out like a light. There may be something wrong with him. Livelovelaugh got into a bit of trouble but then ran on nicely."

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