3 minute read

Willie Mullins unveiled another possible Cheltenham Festival contender on Sunday, as Tullyhill won the Listed Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in easy fashion.

The Cheveley Park-owned gelding was cut to 5/1 from 16s with Paddy Power for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, with Mullins yet to decide where his star novice hurdlers will head.

It was an easy victory for jockey Paul Townend, who was able to make all on the striking grey gelding, pulling clear of the second-placed No Flies On Him approaching the final flight.

In a post-race interview, Mullins said: "He has a fair engine and we just needed to give him confidence jumping. David Casey was deputised with that job and has done a right job.

"He's entitled to go anywhere after a performance like that.

"I thought he'd be an out-an-out stayer but he has plenty of speed, a great cruising speed, and now his jumping is starting to match his cruising speed.

"He's in the Supreme and I'll have a word with connections and see what they would like to do."