SEVEN-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Klassical Dream made a taking winning chase debut at Thurles on Thursday, completing the first leg of a double for his trainer Willie Mullins in the BetVictor App Irish EBF Beginners Chase.

Winner of the 2019 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the nine-year-old made a belated chase debut and under Paul Townend, fenced fluently and won effortlessly from Digby.

Regarding the Joanne Coleman-owned gelding, Mullins reported: “You could see Klassical Dream was probably a third or fourth-season novice the way he jumped because he was very efficient.

“I had been trying to go over fences with him for the past couple of years but he had little mishaps which would have meant he’d miss half the season.

“We bided our time and this year he has been 100% and let’s hope he stays that way now. He is a Supreme Novice winner and we know he has plenty of stamina so you could go any trip with him. We’ll look at Christmas for him as it is nice timing-wise.”

Combined

Mullins and his son jockey Patrick Mullins combined to win the concluding Start Christmas Here (QR) Maiden Hurdle with owner Cathal Hughes’ 10/11 favourite Westport Cove, which raced keenly and made all for a length and a half win over Diamboy Des Carres.

Mullins senior stated: “It was a very good performance, his jumping was very slick and he jumped like a handicapper. I think he was a lot more settled and is maturing.

“We just have to go up in grade now - he is sharp enough for two miles but I have no problem going further either. We’ll look for something around Christmas maybe.”

WILLIE Mullins’ principal rival trainer Gordon Elliott was also on the mark and landed the BetVictor Irish EBF Novice Hurdle with the Gigginstown House Stud-owned, Jack Kennedy-partnered Will Do (4/11 favourite).

The Walk In The Park-gelding found plenty reserves of stamina to fight off runner-up Getaway Charlie.

Afterwards Kennedy said: “The further he goes the better he is, and the ground is only yielding and that’s as good as he wants it. He did it well and the softer the ground the better.

“He is probably not the slowest horse, but is lazy and only does what he has to. Hopefully he keeps progressing.”

Mollys Glory (5/1) notched a second success from seven runs at Thurles when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, for jockey Michael O’Sullivan, owner Aidan Gleeson and trainer Michael Grassick.

The course bumper winner survived a final flight blunder when scoring by a length and three quarters from Workforadime.

Working well

Grassick said: “She had been a bit disappointing on the flat and couldn’t figure out why her runs were so bad as she had been working well at home. She does a lot of messing with her tongue, so we said we’d buy her a tongue-tie and it has obviously helped.

“In fairness to Tom Dowling, who works for me, he suggested to step her right up in trip so I’ll thank him. It looks as if she wants every bit of the distance.

“He (O’Sullivan) said he was in front too soon, but didn’t expect her to pick up as she did. She wants decent ground - you’ll always gets that here and we’ll have a look for another race now.

“If she hadn’t run well today, she was going to stud as she has blacktype in bumpers.”

Trainer Robert Tyner and jockey Philip Enright combined to win the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase with McGrath From Clune (4/1 - 9/4 favourite), which scored easily from Lake Chad.

Tyner said: “He jumps well and it was nice to get one with him. He’ll win another little race somewhere and can mix between hurdles and fences.”

BIGGEST-priced winner was 14/1 shot Ragin Cajun in the ThurlesRaces.ie Handicap Hurdle, which scored for owner/breeder Shay Gillen, trainer Matthew Smith and recent Troytown Chase-winning jockey Danny Gilligan.

Gilligan later commented: “I thought we went very quick early on which suited my lad. He doesn’t do a stroke when he gets there and Matthew (Smith, trainer) said to leave it as late as possible, but the race fell apart in front of me.

“He is quite a quirky horse and was off and on the bridle a bit, but I knew when I popped the question, there was plenty in the tank. He wasn’t doing a whole pile in front, but landed running at the back of the last and hit the line well.”

Well-timed

Thirty-five minutes later Derry-based trainer Noel Kelly combined with amateur jockey Oran McGill to win the Holycross Handicap Hurdle with Herculaneum (13/2), which was produced with a well-timed challenge to score a neck win over Ricky Bobby.

Regarding the Cill Iseal Syndicate’s gelding, McGill said: “He loved being ridden in a way where he has something to aim at and when he gets to the front he doesn’t do too much. I rode him out wide, but it suits him that way.

“I’d say he might get a break now and, hopefully, can keep improving away. There might be another one in him, but it just has to work out on the day.”