WILLIE Mullins completed a Clonmel treble on Thursday, combining with stable jockey Paul Townend for a double while his son Patrick Mullins steered the day’s most notable winner - promising novice hurdler Chapeau De Soleil.

A mid-field finisher in March’s Cheltenham Festival bumper, point-to-point winner Chapeau De Soleil (4/6 favourite) made his hurdling debut in today’s two miles, three furlongs maiden and won impressively by nine lengths from Chosen Thyme.

The race was confined to amateur jockeys with winning rider Patrick Mullins commenting: “He loved the ground, settled well, but I do think he would prefer going the other direction.

“We let him gallop and he settled. We’ve always thought an awful lot of him, but we couldn’t get him right last year, after he ran the first time. He was always looking poorly.

“There was nothing wrong with him, but this year he looks stronger and that’s what we thought of him all along. Hopefully we can just keep him right as he’s just not simple to train, but I think we might have him now.

“We’re hoping he’s a Grade 1 horse - that’s what we’ve always hoped for him.”

Mullins senior completed his double in the three-runner Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan Hurdle with 11-year-old Cash Back (2/5 favourite, for the Watch This Space Syndicate) scoring in dramatic circumstances, when recording a rare ‘99+ lengths’ winning-margin.

Early stages

A keen-goer Cash Back, under Paul Townend, was pressed from the early stages by market rival Desert Heather (9/4), with the pair racing at a strong pace on very heavy ground, with outsider Monishter Are Mwee trailing in last throughout.

Monishter Are Mwee was hopelessly detached from halfway, and while the leaders continued to set strong fractions, Cash Back won the arm-wrestle from the second-last, with all three finishing very tired.Cash Back managed a canter passing the line with runner-up Desert Heather walking home, a distance back but finishing 56 lengths ahead of Monishter Are Mwee.

Relieved Townend reported: “I didn’t see much sense in Desert Heather taking me on as it could have set it up for the one behind us, but she wasn’t there. Any horse which can stay on-the-bridle for the longest, wins today.

“There is a big difference in the ground from Thurles in October to here today but he actually relaxed pretty well for the majority of it. That took guts and he had been running competitively well. He is a great servant and deserved his day again.”

Frustrating spell

Mullins and Townend completed their haul in the concluding Clonmel Supporters Beginners Chase with Henn See (11/8 joint-favourite) which overcame a frustrating spell to win by length and a quarter from Ask Anything.

Townend reported: “The benefit of the run in Wexford probably stood to him and those races (for 0-116 hurdlers) are ideal for him.

“He is a big striding horse but maybe he is just so genuine that when he comes off the bridle, he has nothing left to give. You have to preserve him and it is a matter of getting him as far as you can on the bridle.

“It is good to get a win in these colours are his owner Mike Hankin, of Brown Advisory Group, is now sponsoring me.”

RACING began with the Kilsheelan Maiden Hurdle as Whotookthebiscuit (100/30) scored for trainer Henry de Bromhead, jockey Mike O’Connor and owner/breeder Jimmy McCarthy.

The race was confined to horses which had previously been unplaced on racecourse runs but the winning Milan-mare had placed in a point-to-point last season and today made most of the running to beat Sirekoff by a length and three-quarters.

De Bromhead said: “I’m delighted for her owner/breeder Jimmy McCarthy (from Cork) whose last winner was 10 years ago in Limerick but in fairness we haven’t had many runners,” said de Bromhead.

“We were actually surprised we still had his colours at home and I’m delighted to give him a winner as he is a great supporter.

“It looked a suitable race to have a go at and Mikey did a great job on her. She’s a fun mare, we’ll see what mark she gets and Limerick at Christmas would fit in nicely for her.”

Gamble unstuck

A gamble on first reserve The Big Cloud in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle came unstuck, being beaten into second place by the John Murphy-trained dual point-to-point winner Kitsilano (100/30). Backed from 20/1 this morning and returned the 13/8 favourite, The Big Cloud raced with the leaders but in the home straight, was out-battled by Kitsilano under jockey Tom Harney.

After the race George Murphy, representing his father John, reported: “Kitsilano had a nice run in England last time but we were worried about today’s ground. He wants it a bit nicer as he isn’t a big horse or powerful but got away with it and did it nicely.

“He won a couple of point to points and it is nice for a few of the lads that are in him, Oisin Mahon and Johnny Donoghue, so it is a good day out for them.

“We might put him away now until the spring and bring him back at the end of February or March.”

Kalanisi Dubh delivers her second success

KALANISI Dubh (6/1) registered a second career win in the Happy Christmas To Our Patrons Handicap Hurdle, scoring by nine lengths under Kevin Sexton.

Held up in the rear division, the seven-year-old improved to lead at the second last and scored readily from Star Official.

Winning trainer Seamus Fahey reported: “We had her in the 0-95 handicap hurdle later on but she didn’t get in, although it was probably a blessing as she probably wouldn’t have got the two miles and five furlongs in that ground. We had a little luck.

“Hopefully the handicapper doesn’t lose the run of himself now. She disappointed at Limerick on her last run but if she is okay after this, will run somewhere over Christmas.

“She won in Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day last year when getting in a reserve and we will possibly go there again.

“(Owners) Michael and Sean Allen are father and son, are from down the road from me in Kildangan and this is great to get.”

Doran colours

Owner Tom Doran’s Dorans Pride colours were carried to victory in the Thank You Martin ´Gorman Novice Handicap Chase as Captains Nephew (100/30 joint-favourite) scored easily for trainer Philip Rothwell and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe.

Rothwell reported: “He won on heavy ground here last year and maybe was disappointing afterwards. He ran very nice races in two novice chases which have worked out really well this year and while I hoped he run well in a listed hurdle at Down Royal, he ran no race.

“Alan Hutson, who looks after him at home, does a brilliant job and said he felt great during the week. I was doubting it and was wondering was today coming too soon after Down Royal but I trust my staff at home and Alan was happy with him.

“Hurdles weren’t his thing and you’d love to think he could progress over fences. I’ll stick with the novice handicap chase road as he isn’t up to graded class but there is great prize money for him. We’ll see where it brings us.”