THE market couldn’t see Willie Mullins being beaten in the first Grade 1 of the week and little wonder, as he accounted for four of the six declared in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, his quartet joined by two maidens over hurdles from Gordon Elliott and Jim Bolger.

In the end, it was 18/1 shot Irancy who led them home under Mark Walsh, after leader Salvator Mundi (100/30) and his longtime chaser Kopek Des Bordes (30/100 favourite) blew their chances with a fast pace. The favourite was in trouble before the straight, while Walsh loomed in second and cruised into the lead turning for home.