KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

CHAMPION Hurdle dreams are alive for Mystical Power after the most impressively-bred National Hunt horse in training proved he has the constitution to match his pedigree with a second Grade 1 triumph in 18 days.

The first four from the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a month earlier locked horns again, and the Cheltenham winner, Slade Steel, arrived with the advantage of freshness after bypassing the Aintree Festival, where Mystical Power had gotten the better of Firefox by half a length.

Ile Atlantique ensured the pace was a strong one, and Mark Walsh rode the J.P. McManus-owned winner with bundles of confidence. Slade Steel loomed large on the turn for home and looked poised to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown double, trading as short as 1/5 in the in-running markets. In comparison, Willie Mullins’ scorer hit 29/1 on the Betfair Exchange.

Firefox showed a terrific attitude to win the battle with Slade Steel, who faded to third, but ultimately could not prevail in the war as Mystical Power - a son of Galileo and Annie Power - dug deep to win by a length and three quarters as 2/1 favourite.

Mullins said: “He showed resilience and toughness and has been improving all season. I didn’t think we had much chance at the second last and Mark said he was going as fast as he could coming around the last bend. The race turned into a staying race, though, and he outstayed them.

“It’s fantastic that he’s progressed as the season has gone on. I think Annie Power is coming out in him.”

Paddy Power trimmed Mystical Power to 12/1 (from 16/1) for next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“We’ll certainly have to look at that [Champion Hurdle] kind of campaign - there is a lot of thinking to do between now and then,” said Mullins.

“I doubt he’ll go novice chasing because he looks more of a hurdler than a chaser. He could easily step up in trip, based on this performance. Mark said he found it tough with the amount of speed that was in the early part of the race.

“It looked like a real staying race today, which would mean that he’s a two-and-a-half-mile hurdler and they are the sort of horses you probably need to win a Champion Hurdle. Maybe it’s all pointing in that direction.”