BACARDYS wore down stable companion Bunk Off Early to emerge victorious in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Willie Mullins saddled six of the 10 runners in a bid to win the two-and-a-quarter-mile contest for the fifth successive year, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh siding with Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Saturnas, who was the heavily backed 5/4 favourite.

However, he was the first one beaten and it was Bunk Off Early, a winner on his hurdling debut at this venue over Christmas, who cruised into contention and hit the front on the run to the final flight in the hands of Paul Townend.

But 12/1 shot Bacardys, a top-class bumper performer last season and ridden by the trainer's son, Patrick, was beginning to hit top gear and reeled in his stablemate on the run to line, getting up to score by three-quarters of a length. Brelade was just over two lengths back in third.

RaceBets cut Bacardys to 10/1 from 12/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Paddy Power halving him in price to 7/1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

Mullins said: "I'd imagine the way he stayed and jumped there we'll be looking for a trip. I'm delighted to get a Grade 1 with him for Shanakiel Racing (owners) and, of course, for Patrick as well. I didn't think there was much pace, but obviously there was huge pace as Patrick came from last.

"He's improving all the time. I needed to run him there to get experience into him as he had a hold up after Christmas. I'm actually surprised he stayed on the way he did. He obviously doesn't take a lot of training.

"His jumping was much better. Patrick said he jumped a little bit left, but it was a big step up in class for him. He's had point-to-point experience so he'll be fine and that race will bring him on hugely as well. I'd imagine the Albert Bartlett would be the one for him, but I have two or three others for the race so we'll see."

The champion trainer was also thrilled with the effort of the inexperienced runner-up, but disappointed with the performance of the favourite.

He added: "I'm delighted with Bunk Off Early. He jumped well and he'll improve hugely for jumping at that speed, as that was only his second run over hurdles. We think of him more as a two-mile horse rather than two-and-a-half or three. The way he travels we'll be going for the shorter options.

"Saturnas was never going. We'll go and investigate that and see what's up. I thought he'd like this heavy ground, but maybe the ground didn't suit him."

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