IT could be viewed as an ominous sign for the future that the juvenile hurdle division of 2025/’26 well and truly belongs to Willie Mullins, and he hammered home that point with Proactif leading home a 1-2-3 for the stable in the Grade 2 O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.

Having picked up the Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 for four-year-old hurdlers with the sidelined Narciso Has in February, and followed up with surprise Triumph Hurdle winner Apolon De Charnie, the next generation of senior Closutton stars could be very bright, with Proactif clearly always held in high regard after arriving from France.

J.P. McManus’ 5/4 favourite was well positioned under Mark Walsh to get rolling early in a fast finish and held off Macho Man (9/2) by a neck. Majolique (100/30) was the mount of Paul Townend and shaped better than the bare result a further two lengths back in fourth.

Mullins said of his beaten Triumph Hurdle favourite (ninth at odds of 7/2): “It was a tough performance from Proactif. Mark said he let himself down today on the ground, there was a nice dig in it. He didn’t let himself down at all the last day.

“It’s nice to have one like him. The first three will all make their name, I think, in the next few years. He’s a fine big horse that can go jumping fences, the same with the second horse. I could see Majolique staying over hurdles. Things didn’t go right for her but she’s a fair mare too.”

On the possibility of Proactif being allowed to turn out again at the Punchestown Festival, Mullins added: “I’d imagine so, he’ll have a good long rest for the summer so we’ll keep him working now until Punchestown. There is plenty of time between now and then; it will be the last race of the season so if they recover well from here they’ll go there.”