WILLIE Mullins has won the Lyons of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle with the likes of Penhill and Faugheen in recent years, and he won it again with a promising type in Loughglynn (9/4 favourite) on St Stephen’s Day.

The Jodmart Construction Ltd-owned five-year-old created a fine impression when a 10-length winner of a two-mile-five-furlong maiden hurdle at Punchestown and this longer trip proved no hindrance, for all that they went along at a steady pace. He was keen in the hands of Sean O’Keeffe early but soon settled down, and once he got to the front in the straight, he always looked to be holding a triple challenge, which was eventually headed by Stellar Story.

The son of Vendangeur ranged between 10/1 and 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

“We went steady, he was keen and it was a good performance,” said O’Keeffe. “Going a nicer gallop, he will settle better and he has a bit of class. He had a good look racing in front the last day.

“He is still a big baby, is improving all the time and his jumping was better today than the last day. He didn’t mind the ground and will make into a lovely three-mile chaser.”

Smart

Earlier Mullins and O’Keeffe combined to take the opening Aqua Process Solutions 3-Y-O Hurdle with Bunting (2/5 favourite), who produced a smart performance to win on his debut for the yard and over hurdles.

A winner of his sole start on the flat in France, the Tony Bloom-owned gelding travelled smoothly here but still looked green in the closing stages. It didn’t stop him coming eight lengths clear of Mr Lincoln, and there should be plenty more improvement to come.

“It was a very nice performance, he was very professional and did it well,” reported the winning rider. “He put a lot of distance between himself and his rivals late-on when winning in France and he handles that soft ground. He had a look racing down over the last two hurdles today but was he there when I wanted him.”

The BRC McMahon Reinforcements Handicap Chase featured an admirable front-running performance from Michael McDonagh’s Chainofconsequence.

The six-year-old took up the running for his rider Adam Ryan after the third last and built up a healthy lead. He looked a bit of sitting duck heading towards the second last but kept going well for his amateur rider, and they had four and a half lengths to spare over Teescomponentsyess at the line.

“He is a bit of a thief really but we put blinkers on today and I think it helped,” said McDonagh. “He was sweeter and jumped very well. We were bottom weight and Adam claimed 7lb so that was an advantage as well in that ground.”

SEAN Flanagan took top riding honours on the first day of the Limerick’s Christmas festival courtesy of a double, which was completed with a fine effort on The King Of Prs (10/3) in the O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Novice Chase.

Five of the six runners lining up here were still in contention at the second last and Flanagan had to be patient on the Gavin Cromwell-trained five-year-old. Once he got a split before the last, the Damien Dillon-owned gelding came away to win nicely from Irish Blaze, recording his third win in a row.

“I think the key was that he was keen the last day and today I felt the ground was dead so I dropped him out,” said Flanagan. “It nearly went the other extreme today as he was almost behind the bridle but he jumped fantastically.

“I put myself in a pocket to switch off but rounding the final bend, I thought I’d made my bed so had to lie in it. Fortunately I had enough horse to make the gap and get out. I knew I had a willing partner though and he has buckets of scope.”

Earlier Flanagan teamed up with Paul Nolan to take the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle with Joyau De Thaix (7/1), who responded well to pressure in the straight. He had the measure of favourite Jolie Couer Allen when that rival made a mistake at the last and it was Spasiba who come through for second.

This was a good step forward from the Lynne Maclennan-owned son of Karaktar, who was a well held third on his debut run at Gowran.

“He has improved a tonne from the first day and Sean thinks he is a good horse who wants that soft ground,” said assistant trainer James Nolan. “He jumps like a buck and has a great attitude. Aidan Fitzgerald (pre-trainer) did a great job with him last year and takes his time with those horses.”

THERE was notable market support for Barnahash Primrose (3/1) in the concluding CJ Sheeran Mares INH Flat Race and that support was well founded as Jonathan Sweeney’s mare ran out a smooth winner under Raymond Barron.

The daughter of Malinas was always catching the eye in the way she travelled and once sent to the front in the straight, she came away to win well from Harrys Annie.

“Her dam came here as a maiden hurdler and won the (Grade 3) Shannon Spray Hurdle and this one also goes on the ground, gallops and stays,” said the winning trainer. “This mare is almost identical to her mother - her temperament is the same, although this one has more class.

“She was ready to run in a point-to-point last spring but started growing and grew a lot. We ended up leaving her off which has now worked out well. I’d imagine she is for sale so hopefully someone will buy her and keep her with me.”

Philip Rothwell has his string in fine fettle and having gone close to winning the two-mile novice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown with Woodstream Lad, he went one better with Phils Choice (9/1) in the Mr Binmans Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The soft to heavy ground might have been a problem for the winner but she had no problems in what was a slowly run contest over two and a half miles. There were several horses in contention turning for home but the front two came clear.

Winning rider Sam Ewing said: “Philip wanted me to drop her in but we were going very slow going up the hill the second time and she was jumping and travelling so well, I ended up jumping into a position too soon.

“She had a good look at the last two hurdles but to be fair to her, stuck her head out and battled well. She did it well in the end.”