ARCTIC Warrior and Egality Mans completed a double for Willie Mullins at Wexford last Sunday, when the champion trainer was also successful with Whiskey Sour up at Leopardstown.

Arctic Warrior, the J.P. McManus-owned novice hurdler, was well touted by Mullins at the beginning of the season but he failed to get competitive in two Grade 1 contests, when seventh of seven in the Royal Bond and falling in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He issued a reassuring display here however, eventually settling down in front for Jody McGarvey, jumping well and always seemingly holding the challenge of favourite Clifton Warrior in the straight, with that pair clear of their other rivals.

The six-year-old was winning off a mark of 128 and is open to further progress now. His trainer said: “Jody was very positive on him and it paid off with his jumping. He’ll get confidence from that and I think he’ll improve.

“That ground is very tacky and I think he’ll be better on nicer ground. We’ll go slowly up in grade. After those couple of falls he needs to get his confidence back.”

The Closutton team only had to wait less than half an hour for their next winner following a facile success for Egality Mans under Danny Mullins in an extended three-mile–one-furlong beginners’ chase.

Owned by the Mr and Mrs Joe Donnelly, the eight-year-old had been a beaten favourite on his two starts over fences, falling at Punchestown and then finishing fourth to Floueur at Fairyhouse.

This was probably an easier task in truth and he was able to win comfortably despite an error at the fence in front of the stands the first time around. He eventually took up the running going easily at the second last and posted a 12-length victory when ridden out after the last.

“He recovered nicely from a bad mistake first time around when he stood off from the shadow of the fence,” Mullins said. “Danny got a breather into him and got him jumping better. He got his confidence back on the final circuit and hopefully he can progress.

“He’s one for staying chases and maybe could be an Irish National horse down the line.”

FRESH off the back of a treble at Navan the previous day, Gavin Cromwell followed up with another winner with Donnrua Dream in the two-mile M2 Construction Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Keith Donoghue was on board for one of Cromwell’s three winners at Navan and he was excellent here, taking the five-year-old through to challenge as the leaders approached the straight. A good jump at the last was crucial and Donoghue was strong in the finish to help the Green Grass Syndicate-owned gelding see off the challenge of Saga Aravis and Richie Deegan.

That made it two wins and two thirds for Donnrua Dream in his last four starts but Donoghue recommended that the gelding prefer soft ground so his options may be more limited going into the spring.

There were two other winners hailing from Co Meath on the card and first of them was provided by Noel Meade whose Mount Brown emerged a smooth winner in the two-mile BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle.

The Mischief Syndicate-owned five-year-old was ridden confidently from a held-up position by Eoin Walsh. He made ground in good style on the run to two out and moved up to take an outright lead at the last, after which, his rider let him cruise clear for a four-length win over Gordon Elliott’s Laffite.

The son of Fulbright had finished an encouraging fifth on his hurdles debut behind Flame Bearer at Fairyhouse but this was a big step up and he has lots of potential now.

The card closed with a surprise win for Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag who overturned the 1/5 Willie Mullins-trained favourite Dancing City, after surviving a subsequent stewards’ enquiry.

Ridden by Harry Swan, Three Card Brag had come under pressure from the three-furlong pole but showed a very likeable attitude to keep picking up, and it became apparent at the furlong marker that Patrick Mullins was going to have to work very hard on the favourite.

The two horses, who had pulled clear, came close together a couple of times, but the winning margin of a half length probably sealed the deal for the son of Jet Away, part owned by the McNeill family and Patrick and Scott Bryceland. Swan was found guilty of careless riding and banned for one-day.

CON O’Keeffe got plenty of joy out of seeing his Kilbarry Chloe see off allcomers in the opening two-mile Wexford Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Waterford trainer bred and trains the mare for his wife Claire who part owns her with Tadhg O’Sullivan. The daughter of Mahler was always prominent for Mike O’Connor and took it up just before the second last where she made a mistake. That didn’t stop her however as she proved too strong for the 250/1 shot Hannah Wells in the closing stages.

“She’s been knocking on the door,” O’Keeffe said. “I’m delighted and when you breed them as well it makes it all the more special. She’s a real genuine mare and we have been waiting for the ground all year with her.

“We thought she would have been running in January. Hopefully we’ll get more ground like that before the season finishes. She needs a trip, soft ground and a fence. She’ll go chasing next season.”

Another mare gaining a deserved success was Robert Tyner’s Nelly’s Money, who had finished in the top four on each of her previous four starts.

The Anthony McCarthy-owned nine-year-old raced keenly early on but she was still travelling well coming into the straight when tracking the run of Manitopark AA. She still had a bit to do before the last, but she picked up very well to defeat the Mullins mare and land odds of 2/1.