A HIGHLY productive afternoon for Willie Mullins, which ended with a four-timer, featured a graded race double, although the victory of Carefully Selected in the Naas Racecourse Business Club Novice Chase wasn’t without a scare or two.

Just two weeks after his tour de force in a Punchestown Grade 2, Carefully Selected was a 4/6 chance to add this Grade 3 to his haul with the step up to three miles promising to suit the Margaret Masterson-owned son of Well Chosen.

Disaster almost struck for the market leader at the third last where he made a bad mistake, but Paul Townend sat tight and his partner was soon back on an even keel. Carefully Selected still had a battle on his hands two out as Spyglass Hill was still in with every chance. However, the latter crashed out there to leave the Mullins inmate to finish four lengths clear of the 25/1 chance Forza Milan.

“He can make hard work of things – that’s twice in three runs he has come back from what looked to be a race-ending mistake,” commented Mullins. “He jumped safely and I think that today will have been a good experience for him. The National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham remains the plan.”

Flawless

Earlier, Stormy Ireland’s flawless season continued in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle where the high-class mare showed another side to her array of talents.

A habitual front-runner, Stormy Ireland took a lead as Mengli Khan set a brisk pace and Paul Townend waited until the second last before sending the six-year-old to the front.

Once she took charge, Stormy Ireland quickly scampered clear to register a smooth six-length success over stablemate Franco De Port with Mengli Khan third. This made it three wins from as many start this season for the 3/10 favourite.

“I thought that was a good performance to win over that two miles trip, especially given the pace they went,” stated Mullins of the Sullivan Bloodstock-owned mare.

“It was good to see that she could do that without making the running and she’s improving. She’s certainly good enough to run in the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham.”

The Big Getaway jumps superbly

THE Mullins-Townend axis picked up the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle with The Big Getaway (2/5). An unlucky loser at Christmas when a last-flight error cost him a chance of victory, the Marie Donnelly-owned six-year-old bounced back with an impressive 17-length victory.

This huge gelding did everything at his leisure, jumped superbly and from well before the straight he looked to have this sewn up.

Cheltenham’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is likely to be next for the winner.

The four-timer was brought up by Billaway (9/2) and Patrick Mullins in the hunters’ chase. This lightly raced son of Well Chosen progressed from a good second to Dylrow at Down Royal to win nicely, as he quickened up well from the last to defeat Staker Wallace (returning from 1078 days off) by eight lengths.

The Foxhunter is next for the John Turner-owned winner.

The winning trainer’s Casey Jem (15/8) was pulled up with a fatal injury on the final circuit. Val De Ferbet collapsed and died after the race.

Battle Of Wills shows that he could be very smart

GORDON Elliott introduced a promising juvenile in Battle Of Wills (100/30) in the four-year-old maiden hurdle. A three-time winner on the flat for James Tate, the son of Lawman took well to this discipline under Davy Russell and produced a nice round of jumping.

He came through to join the 100/1 shot Van Meegeren at the last flight and then made sure of victory on the run-in without being subjected to strong pressure.

The Alymer Stud Limited-owned gelding had a cosy half-length to spare at the finish.

“He’s quite a nice horse and was running a few weeks earlier than ideal,” commented Elliott. “He’ll get an entry in the Triumph and will run before then, possibly in the Winning Fair at Fairyhouse in three weeks’ time.”

Oliver McKiernan’s impressive form continued with Best Behavior who shrugged aside an 8lb rise after a Christmas victory to follow up in the two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap chase.

Rattle

Barry Browne, who picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts, conjured quite a surge from the Keep The Faith Syndicate-owned gelding. Best Behavior (4/1) looked held in third from the second last but he finished off with a rattle to sweep by Star Max and Uaintseenothingyet late in the day.

The winning trainer expressed the hope that there could be a good handicap in his charge and the very likeable Best Behavior could make his presence felt in a quality contest before the end of the season.

Philip Rothwell moved on to his best seasonal tally (eight winners) for six years after Wolfofallstreets (12/1) took the two-mile handicap hurdle under Adam Short. The Carol Hogan and Eric Newnham-owned winner was full of running turning for home and knuckled down after the last to fend off Youngnedofthehill by two lengths.

CHARLES Byrnes was hit with a €2,000 fine after the stewards enquired into the running and riding of Kendancer who finished ninth when going off fourth favourite for the maiden hurdle won by Battle Of Wills.

Byrnes was found to be in breach of Rule 212A(iii) (schooling). Brouder was hit with a seven-day suspension under Rule 212A(ii) (insubstantial effort) and Rule 212 A (iii). In addition, the horse was banned from racing for 42 days.