SKY BET SUPREME

NOVICES’ HURDLE

(GRADE 1)

NORMAL service was resumed in the festival opener as Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh teamed up to strike for the first time since 2015 as Klassical Dream produced an all star display.

The last time that the successful combination struck in this race was with the brilliant Douvan and this year the Supreme Novices’ was without the presence of an overarching figure who had claimed the ‘banker’ status mantle.

A maiden hurdle win at Christmas and a hard fought Grade 1 success at Leopardstown last month saw Klassical Dream turn up as a legitimate contender, and he went off at just 6/1, but one could see just why Mullins, among others, was so keen to see a return of soft ground during the winter.

GRIP

Klassical Dream went to post taking quite a grip but he did everything right in the race itself. He jumped brilliantly in a forward position, he travelled supremely well and it was all looking quite ominous for his rivals when he took over in front with three to jump. His compatriot Felix Desjy looked his only real threat turning for home and when that one was brushed aside on the run to the last, victory was in the bag for the Mullins’ horse.

Klassical Dream went on to score by four and a half lengths from the Olly Murphy-trained duo of Thomas Darby and Itchy Feet. This was the sixth time that Mullins has won this race which credited him with a first Cheltenham winner all the way back in 1995.

“That was terrific. We took a chance running him on goodish ground at home during the winter and he showed then that he had an engine. With the rain that was forecast we decided to come here rather than go for the Ballymore and he’s shown that he’s a very, very good horse,” said Mullins.

“He produced a bit of work at the Curragh last week that left us thinking that he could take beating and on this ground he was just a different horse. We’ll let him go on to Punchestown and I’ll see what he can do over hurdles before making a decision as to what he might do next season.

“This is a very poignant moment. The late John Coleman had some cheaper horses with me and then when he sold his business and retired he said to me to go off and buy him a Cheltenham horse and we bought Klassical Dream. I’m delighted for John’s wife Joanne and all the family – it’s wonderful for them,” added the trainer.