IT was an industrious evening for the champion trainer, who notched up two winners, and his brace began with the French import Quartz Du Rheu in the Victoria House Maiden Hurdle. This J.P. McManus-owned son of Konig Turf finished fourth at Auteuil last September on his only jumping outing in France and he had little difficulty landing odds of 2/9. He made the running for Paul Townend and was never subjected to anything resembling strong pressure to defeat Cocohulababy by seven and a half lengths. Listowel is a possibility for the winner who could turn out to be quite a useful sort in time.

Mullins then teamed up with his nephew David to take the Christy O’Connor Memorial Rated Novice Hurdle with Poker D’ainay (7/2). The John Brennan-owned five-year-old pulled up in a Galway handicap last time but was restored to the form that saw him win a Wexford maiden last month. The winner, whom Mullins felt was suited by the small six-runner field, saw off the favourite Generator City by two and a quarter lengths. Denis Hogan, who rode the runner-up, was hit with a four-day whip ban.