REAL Steel signalled that he could have a part to play at championship level later in the season as he disposed of the odds-on Footpad to lead home a Willie Mullins one-two-three in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles last Sunday. The champion trainer dominated the fixture with a treble.

Remarkably this was just a second win in this race for Mullins with his only other success coming courtesy of Apt Approach in 2012 but, fielding three of the five runners, he always looked likely to add to his tally in this Grade 2.