IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF ANNIE POWER MARES CHAMPION HURDLE (Grade 1)

FOR the sixth time in seven years Willie Mullins captured the penultimate Grade 1 of the season and in exactly the order that the market expected as Benie Des Dieux led home stablemates Stormy Ireland and Good Thyne Tara.

A winner of this race 12 months ago Benie Des Dieux was the 2/5 favourite for what looked a simple assignment.

On her only previous start this season, the Susannah Ricci-owned mare fell at the last when set to win the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and, with just four rivals deigning to take her on here, the eight-year-old appeared to hold all the aces for Paul Townend.

There was a point in the back straight where Townend appeared to be niggling away at the mare but she was perfectly poised in second spot with two to jump and, before the final flight, she took the measure of the front-running Stormy Ireland. A safe jump at the last made sure of a nine and a half lengths triumph.

“I thought there might be an upset for a little while as Stormy Ireland was getting away from her and Paul just felt she didn’t want to get down and gallop on the ground. They’ve put a lot of water on the track but it has been an exceptionally dry winter and you can’t replicate a month’s rain,” said Mullins.

“She’s had a very light season so we will definitely look at the French Champion Hurdle for her but we will just see how she is over the next week. It’s possible that she could go back chasing at some stage but the prize money is better for her over hurdles and, if she did go back chasing, it would only be on winter ground.”

“Stormy Ireland is so brave. She’s only small but she’d got the heart of a lion and hopefully she’ll get her reward one of these days. She’ll definitely head back to France,” concluded Mullins.

Townend added: “The second ran a cracker, I thought she had me in trouble at the back of the second last but the bit of class in this one kicked in off the bend and the further I was going, the happier I was getting. I rode her here last year and she’s definitely better with an ease in the ground. Her ability got her through today”.

FUSIL FIRES FOR TOP JUVENILE HONOURS

AES CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE (Grade 1)

A MEMORABLE meeting for the English raiders concluded with the victory of Fusil Raffles who ensured that four Grade 1 prizes headed across the Irish Sea after he gave Nicky Henderson a fourth victory in this race and a first since 2011.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding looked a tremendous talent on his debut for Henderson when bolting up in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle over two months previously.

An injury picked up in that race meant that this son of Saint Des Saints had to skip Cheltenham and Aintree but, in accounting for the very smart Fakir D’Oudairies, he has confirmed himself as being among the season’s leading juveniles.

Fusil Raffles and Daryl Jacob over the last to win the Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. Photo: Healy Racing

The owner’s retained rider Daryl Jacob was on board the 13/8 favourite and the pair loomed up to tackle Fakir D’Oudairies off the last bend.

The latter didn’t go down without a fight but Fusil Raffles edged ahead before the last and settled the outcome with a quick jump which enabled him to cross the line with two and three quarter lengths to spare. French Made was a further five lengths back in third. “That was great as it was a bit of a rush getting him ready for this after the injury he picked up at Kempton. It was a horrible injury and I have to thank the vets who stitched him up afterwards. Sarah [Shreeve], who looks after him, has worked her socks off to get him here. It’s been a great team effort,” reflected Henderson.

“I wasn’t sure if he was ready for this mentally or physically as he is only back in work three weeks but he’s obviously a very tough horse and a very good horse and we’ll look forward to next season now,” added the trainer.