AS expected the Paddy Power Games Beginners Chase turned into a Willie Mullins benefit as the champion trainer fielded the first three home headed by Haut En Couleurs.

On his two starts for the trainer last term the Marie Donnelly-owned four-year-old was placed twice at Grade 1 level and he showed a fine aptitude for this discipline.

Stablemate Mt Leinster made this a good test as he set off at a strong gallop but he was brushed aside by the Paul Townend-ridden 1/3 favourite turning for home. A safe jump at the last enabled Haut En Couleurs to coast home by five and a half lengths from Gentleman De Mee with Mt Leinster fading to finish a further 14 lengths back in third.

“He’s a natural jumper and he looks Arkle material. I’d expect him to improve from the run. He ran well on his two runs for us last season but was maybe still a little disappointing,” stated Mullins.

Classy juvenile

The trainer introduced a nice type in the Paddy Power-sponsored three-year-old maiden hurdle where the J.P. McManus-owned Icare Allen, a winner on his sole flat outing in France in August, made a successful Irish debut. The 13/8 favourite looked to do everything nicely under Mark Walsh and appeared to have matters in hand once he eased to the front before the last. At the line he was an assured three lengths winner over the 80/1 shot Privilege.

“He’s a lovely horse who had been working well at home and I’d expect him to climb the ranks in the juvenile division. The Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival would look an obvious target,” declared Mullins.

The card concluded with a titanic battle in the Paddy Power-sponsored bumper over two and a half miles where the Mullins-trained Embassy Gardens (4/6) edged out Gordon Elliott’s Santonito.

The pair engaged a tremendous duel all the way up the straight and a game Santonito was in front everywhere bar the line where one last lunge from the Patrick Mullins-ridden son of Shantou was sufficient to carry the day by a nose. The winner, who is out of the Mullins-trained Grade 1 winner Adriana Des Mottes, is owned by Sean and Bernardine Mulryan.

“He was very green and I think he can improve from here. He’d been showing me at home that he was a nice horse,” remarked the trainer.

Dominated handicap

What looked a competitive affair beforehand was turned into a rout as Brides Hill (16/1) dominated the Paddy Power-sponsored two-mile handicap hurdle from start to finish to come home alone.

A winner of a maiden hurdle in the comparatively modest surrounds of Tramore in August, this mare has done nothing but improve this season and was winning here off a 13lbs higher mark than when last successful.

Luke Dempsey’s mount surged clear of a toiling field from the turn-in and pinged the last flight as if it were the first to finish with seven and a half lengths to spare.

Another hefty rise in the weights will come the way of Brides Hill Syndicate-owned four-year-old but she looks a contender for some quality handicaps in the coming months.

“That was a great performance. Luke probably got a soft lead and dictated but she didn’t half quicken up from the back of the second last. What I love about her is that she has a great attitude and she’s very game,” stated winning trainer Gavin Cromwell.