Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:55 €85,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 27th December 2016 | |
1 Saturnas 9/2
2 Brelade 8/1
3 Sunni May 7/2
NR: Avenir D'Une Vie (FR)
7 ran Distances: 2l, 4¼l, 7½l
TIME 3m 55.40s (slow by 10.40s)
Mullins dominates as Saturnas scores upset
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Willie Mullins' winner was second in the Royal Bond but Peace News fell when challenging in that race and was sent off favourite to make amends.
Henry de Bromhead's charge did not travel with any real fluency, though, whereas Saturnas was always going well in the hands of Paul Townend.
He challenged on the run to the last and while Brelade tried to go with him, the 9-2 chance was a willing partner for Townend and prevailed by two lengths.
Mullins said: "He did it the hard way. We knew there was going to be a good pace. We weren't afraid to make it, but anyway we weren't allowed.
"He jumped and galloped and he has lots of stamina. You can depend on his jumping and that's what keeps him in the race. Stamina then won it for him.
"He'll probably come back here for the Deloitte."
He went on: "It was good for my owner (Nick Peacock). I think he is just back from two or three months' holidays.
"I thought he maybe just met Airlie Beach on a good day in Fairyhouse. Certainly today I felt he travelled a lot better the whole way.
"It's also fantastic for Paul to get a Grade One winner. It's not often Ruby (Walsh) picks the wrong one. I'm delighted for Paul.
"Ruby's just wasn't jumping behind but I think that horse ran a cracker and if we can get his jumping right he could be a force."
Townend said: "He ran a nice race in Fairyhouse in the Royal Bond, he just bumped into Willie's other one (Airlie Beach). He came on for that I thought.
"It was a proper race, a true-run race. It was a good gallop and he jumped super and he ground it out, he was very tough.
"He travelled a bit sweeter today. Maybe it was the ground, I don't know, but he definitely carried me a lot better today."
The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle
2m , Race Value: €85,000, Grade 1
7 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Saturnas (FR) 9/2 | P Townend 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 5 | |
| 2nd | 2 | Brelade 8/1 | J W Kennedy 11-7 |
G Elliott | 4 |
| 3rd | 4¼ | Sunni May (IRE) 7/2 | R M Power 11-10 |
Mrs J Harrington | 5 |
| 4th | 7½ | Riven Light (IRE) 3/1 | R Walsh 11-7 |
W P Mullins | 4 |
| 5th | ½ | Peace News (GER) 5/2f | B J Cooper 11-7 |
H de Bromhead | 4 |
| 6th | 1¾ | Le Martalin (FR) 12/1 | S W Flanagan 11-10 |
N Meade | 5 |
| 7th | 58 | Lion In His Heart (IRE) 25/1 | D N Russell 11-10 |
H de Bromhead | 5 |
| NR | Avenir D'une Vie (FR) 5/1 | B J Cooper 11-10 |
H de Bromhead | 6 |
