NOT for the first time in recent weeks, Willie Mullins took the wraps off a jumper of prodigious potential as Unexcepted made quite a statement with a striking Irish debut in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

The J.P. McManus-owned Unexcepted (11/8) last ran a very promising third over hurdles at Auteuil two years ago and was then sold for £200,000 at a sale at Cheltenham several weeks later, but he had to wait until now to make his debut for the champion trainer.