MAUGHREEN was the star of a treble for Willie Mullins at Punchestown on Monday, as the well-touted mare made a winning start over timber. The daughter of Walk In The Park made her first outing since an impressive bumper victory at the course over a year ago.

She went to post a 4/11 shot in the BetVictor Mares Maiden Hurdle and made all on her jumping debut under Paul Townend. Having scooted clear before the final flight, she got under the last a bit, but always looked comfortable in posting a five-length victory over Dee’s Lady.

“I thought it was a huge performance for a mare having only her second run, against the experience that (third-placed) Familiar Dreams had,” said Mullins, who was surrounded by a large crowd from the Closutton Racing Club.

“She went out and made her own running, jumped from hurdle to hurdle. She made one or two little mistakes and got a bit close at the last, but Paul was happy to let her fiddle that. She learned.

“I’m not sure we’ll have any more chances to give her a run between now and Cheltenham, we’ll see. Looking at that, I don’t think she’ll need one. She should improve, she took a blow and she was idling.”

Paddy Power reacted by shortening the winner by a point, into 3/1 favourite, for the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Mullins and Townend had started the day with another impressive winner, in Karbau. The Cokoriko gelding went to post a 1/2 favourite in the BetVictor Graduation Maiden Hurdle and produced a powerful front-running performance. He skipped clear before the last to post an easy 16-length win in the colours of Barnane Stud.

“That was a nice performance. He learned a lot from the first day (when fourth in Naas) and put it to good use,” said Mullins. “He was taking about half-a-length out of most of them (at his hurdles). I’m very pleased with him.

“He’s in the Supreme Novices’ and Turners. He’s a forward-going type and he likes to race and jump. If he finds a bit of improvement, he’s right up there. I’d be happy enough that he’s a good calibre horse. He loved that ground.”

Work in progress

The Closutton treble was completed when Port Joulain claimed the two-mile-three maiden hurdle. Townend produced his mount, another Cokoriko gelding, to lead before the last and he galloped on strongly on the run-in to beat Sermandzarak by two and a quarter lengths.

“At least he’s improving, that fella. He’s not the simplest horse to ride, he’s very fussy with his mouth and we might try and sort that out,” said Mullins. “Paul said when he got down and rode him, he went straight for him and he was happy, but he has a very tender mouth.

“I probably see him more as a chaser. He could make the top grade as a chaser, rather than a novice hurdler. If we do a bit of work on getting his head carriage right, it could improve him a good bit.”

ROSS O’Sullivan is hoping that Slurricane has booked his ticket to Cheltenham, after success in the four-year-old handicap hurdle.

The Kodiac gelding went to post a 4/1 shot in the two-miler and knuckled down gamely to get the better of Out For A Stroll on the run-in, posting a length and a quarter win under Tom Harney.

“That was lovely. He’s been so consistent throughout the year, but looking at this race today, it didn’t look straightforward,” said O’Sullivan. “Eagles Reign won this race last year and qualified for the Boodles. We’ll try and do the same again and get Eleanora (Kennedy) a trip to Cheltenham.

“He’s 115 and that might just get him now. It would be lovely for her to experience Cheltenham and that has been the plan. He’s a tough horse, he handles soft ground really well and stays really well.”

Not for catching

Another horse that revelled in the testing going was the Colin Bowe-trained The Great Nudie, in the rated novice hurdle. She was soon in front, under Sean Flanagan, and the 5/1 shot put the race to bed turning for home to record a seven-length success over Goraibhmaithagat.

Flanagan, in the colours of Leo McArdle, said: “She won her maiden on very testing ground in Tramore and the race worked out okay.

“I rode her here in a listed race the last day and kind of covered her up a little bit, she’s a small little mare and didn’t like it. The ground conditions today really suited her. She jumped and travelled well, jumping is key to her. She’s not very big, but she’s hardy.”

A VISIT to see his two horses run worked out well for owner Owen Daley with Bridie’s Beau opening his account in the two-mile, three-furlong handicap hurdle.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding travelled strongly to lead before the straight and the well-backed 5/2 favourite was in control from there. He was eased down close home to score by six lengths under Keith Donoghue, as John The Diva chased him home.

“He had a nice run in Limerick, where he was staying on well at the finish. He was stepping up in trip and he’s improved a bit, so that was nice,” said Cromwell.

“It’s great for the owner, who came across from the UK yesterday for Individualiste and this fella. He just has the two with us, so it worked out great that at least one of them won.”

Owners cheer favourite

Favourite backers also collected in the concluding two-mile-seven handicap hurdle, as That’s Me Finished made a winning return from a break. Jody McGarvey produced the 5/1 shot with a strong run to lead on the run-in and beat Callmedusty by a length and three-quarters.

“He battled it out well. He’s not the most straightforward horse to train,” said winning trainer Noel Kelly. “He had wee niggly injuries after the last day he won (at Sligo in August) and we gave him a break.

“He’s a nice horse, the ground today probably didn’t really suit him. We took a chance on him. It was very testing and, two furlongs out, we were panicking, you can hear these boys (What’s It All About Syndicate) in the stands!”