WILLIE Mullins added Limerick’s featured Listed Irish Independent Hurdle to Don Poli’s Lexus Chase win at Leopardstown on Monday, as the champion trainer’s Dicosimo returned to winning ways with an easy win at the Munster track.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, Dicosimo (5/4 favourite, for owner Rich Ricci) travelled well throughout and in the end stayed on strongly to comfortably fend off the challenge of Theophilus by 10 lengths.

Mullins was at Leopardstown but his nephew and winning jockey Danny Mullins later commented: “I was always confident and able to get a breather into him coming down the hill. I wanted to fill up the tank before going again and he was good.

“His form flattened out maybe last spring but hopefully this year he’ll keep it going and there’s no reason he won’t.”

Don Poli’s owner Michael O’Leary, of Gigginstown House Stud, had a day to remember at the Dublin venue as his Prince Of Scars also landed the Christmas Hurdle and his day had begun with a winner at Limerick as his Ball D’Arc landed the opening Racing Post Maiden Hurdle for Prince Of Scars’ trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Kevin Sexton.

The well-backed 5/4 second favourite eventually led home a one-two for owner O’Leary, beating Berry Des Aulmes by a length and a quarter.

Elliott was at Leopardstown but Sexton later stated: “He settled away great in front. He travelled brilliantly and I always had loads of horse and he also jumped brilliantly. I knew nothing would catch him and he’ll go further too as he stays well.”

ON-FORM LYNCH

Andrew Lynch had a pep to his step following his Grade 1 win on Flemenstar at Leopardstown the previous day and the rider added two more winners today, each for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

The pair began with Domesday Book’s win (even money favourite, in the Brookhouse colours) in the Cube Beginners Chase and the gelding won readily by 10 lengths.

Lynch later commented: “He is a chaser and is a better jumper than he showed today and today was just about getting around.

“He’ll get further but after the last day we said we’d try and win our beginners’ chase over two miles. He can be lairy in front but hopefully can go on to better things now.”

Lynch and de Bromhead completed the double with the similarly priced 10/11 favourite Deans Road’s win in the Mr Binman Maiden Hurdle for owner C. Creed.

Lynch said: “He won his point-to-point on heavy and ran well in a good race the last day. Whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus as he wants a fence.’’

NOTABLE DOUBLE

Another rider to register a double, albeit possibly more notable, was promising amateur rider Eoin O’Brien. O’Brien, riding his first racecourse double, began with a win on Thyestes Chase bound Bothair Clei in the attritional Guinness Veterans Handicap Chase for Geraldine Murphy.

Just three of the 11 runners completed and following the 10-year-old’s success, winning trainer Donie Murphy stated: “This is his time of year and he might get into the Thyestes now after that. Eoin gave him a great ride; he doesn’t do a whole lot in front and Eoin left it as late as he could.”

Amateur jockey O’Brien completed his brace in the concluding Greenmount Equine Hospital INH Flat Race with a solid display from newcomer Brave Poppy (16s in to 12/1), who beat off Black Warrior by half a length.

The leading pair pulled 23 lengths clear of the third and after the race winning trainer Ray Hackett commented: “His work at home showed me he was capable of doing that.

“I originally bought him for a point-to-point but his work was so good I decided to come here instead. He was a bit free early so it was a good effort to get home on that ground and if he isn’t sold, there’s a winners’ bumper back here for him on St Patrick’s Day.”

Ger Fox was the cleanest jockey returning from his ride on De Glebe Star in the Parkway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle, as the 3lb claimer made most to readily beat off Fiddlers Bow by 12 lengths.

Winning trainer Frances Slevin was absent but her brother Nigel later commented on the Camillus Slevin-owned winner: “He loves that loose ground and hates it tacky. We thought he had a right chance after his run the last day and God knows where we’ll run next - he’s a low grade handicapper.”