WILLIE Mullins warmed up for the Cheltenham Festival with a near 16/1 treble as Aime Desjy, Annamix and Port Joulain reeled off the final three races for the Closutton team on a seven-race card last Saturday.

Aime Desjy jumped poorly when runner-up to Saint Felicien here last month but put in a much improved round of jumping to take the Holden Fleet Management Beginners Chase.

The 2/7 shot, sporting the red and white colours of the Roaringwater Syndicate, made most of the running and quickly drew clear under Paul Townend after the last to beat Duffle Coat by an easy eight lengths.

“He jumped a lot better today and seems to like this game better than hurdling. He goes on that (heavy) ground and I think he’ll go on better ground as we get into the spring. We’ll probably look for something in Fairyhouse,” said Mullins.

First winner

Luke Turner partnered his first winner over fences when Annamix also quickened clear on the run-in to beat the flattering Early Doors by 10 lengths in the INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase, although the teenage rider was later given a four-day suspension for unnecessary use of the whip in the closing stages.

Patrick Mullins, who owns the 9/2 winner in partnership with Paul Kelleher and Cian Kiely, said: “Luke is only 17 and from Donegal. He’s been with us about two years and is taller than me.

“He’s a very natural rider who works hard at his weight and deserves the opportunity. It’s great for him to get the win and he rode a bumper winner for Barry Fitzgerald before in Galway.

“He’ll go back to Aintree now and I’ll ride him there. He’s a brilliant jumper and Aintree will suit him over two and a half miles.

“He’s a fast horse, they went slow and it turned into a sprint which suited him. Better ground would suit him as well.”

Treble up

The champion trainer completed his treble in the concluding ‘Doc’s Bumper’ Flat Race where Port Joulain, bought on behalf of Rich and Sussanah Ricci for £300,000 just after winning a point-to-point for Denis Murphy at Borris House last December, justified 11/8 favouritism.

The Cokoriko gelding was ridden out by Patrick Mullins inside the final furlong to beat Good N’ Kind by two and a quarter-lengths with the pair stretching clear of the remainder.

“He was on my Cheltenham Bumper team but I couldn’t get him ready in time, so I put him by for this race and I’m very pleased with him. We’ll probably have a look at a winners’ bumper at the big Festivals,” said Mullins.

WHISKEYWEALTH was well supported from 4/1 in the morning to go off 5/2 favourite in the featured Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase and duly landed the €45,000 for the Eamonn Hickey and Ger Finn Partnership.

John Shinnick’s mount tracked Mount Frisco until challenging in the straight and kept on best of the prominent pair to score by a length and three-quarters with top-weight Figaroc seven lengths further back in third.

“He was in great form coming here and I was hoping he’d run a good race. He’s been very consistent, and we’re delighted to get a good pot,” said Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O’Brien.

“He was due to run in this race last year, but he scoped wrong a couple of days beforehand. He’s still improving and that was a career best over fences.”

Jockeys’ title

Jack Kennedy remains six clear (109-103) of Townend in the jump jockeys’ title race after partnering Angostura to make all in the Golf Classics At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle.

The Malinas gelding, trained by Gordon Elliott for Caren Walsh, was just shaken up to assert after two out before going on to beat Tranquil Sea by an easy five lengths.

“He was a little bit green in front but has done it very nicely and there should be plenty of days with him. The ground is very testing, it’s holding. He got through it but would prefer it a bit nicer,” said Kennedy of the 2/5 winner.

QUEEN Nel stepped up on the form on her three previous runs when justifying good support in the Best Of Luck To The Irish At Cheltenham Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The grey daughter of Mount Nelson, available at 28/1 in the morning and further backed on track from 11/1 into 7/1, headed the front-running Jokers ‘N’ Clowns after two out and kept on strongly on the run-in for Donagh Meyler to beat that rival by eight lengths.

“She’s not the quickest but you didn’t need to be on that ground today and she stayed galloping. It probably wasn’t the strongest race, but I’m delighted with her and she’s a homebred,” said Ray Cody who trains the winner for his wife Gillian.

“She can go up in trip on better ground and we might find a winners’ race next for her. My nephew (Ray) rides her all the time at home, and he thought she was going better the last month.”

Followed up

Carlas Big Jim followed up a convincing win at Clonmel last month when again prominent throughout under amateur Cal Shine in the BoyleSports Money Back On Every Race At Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle, getting the better of Dgalwaygallivantor after the last to score by three and three-quarter lengths.

“This horse is growing up, he’s a big shell really, and I think there is more to come from him,” said Louis Archdeacon who trains the 13/2 winner for Una Fitzpatrick.

“He probably got an easy lead but he acts well on that ground. Cal knows him very well and says he jumps better when he’s up there. We might run him next in a qualifier for the Full Circle Series at Mallow.”

David Doyle was hit with a 10-day suspension for a breach of Rule 212.A(ii) following a running and riding inquiry after his mount Cher Why Not kept on late to finish seventh.