1 Abbyssial 15/2
2 Plinth 25/1
3 Fox Norton
13 ran Distances: 6½l, 1½l, 1¾l
TIME 3m 49.40s (slow by 3.40s)

Willie Mullins made it six Grade 1s for the week when Abbyssial carried the Florida Pearl colours to victory in the Grade 1 AES Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle.

Abbyssial
© Caroline Norris

The 15-2 chance had fallen on his latest start in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, giving Ruby Walsh a broken arm, but Willie Mullins' charge made amends for that in superb fashion with the same jockey in the plate.

Abbyssial quickened up between the final two flights to get his rivals on the stretch and the race was all but over as they turned into the straight, with Plinth staying on for second place behind the six-and-a-half-length winner. Fox Norton finished third, with Triumph hero Tiger Roll a disappointing favourite.

“We have to wonder what would have happened if he had not fallen at Cheltenham,” said Mullins. “He did one of his best ever pieces of work earlier this week and I was just worried about the going because Beneficials tend to like winter ground. Ruby (Walsh) made good use of him.”

Abbyssial is 14/1 with Boylesports for next year’s Arkle Chase and Mullins added: “He’ll be going over fences, that will be his game, he’s definitely a chaser of the future.”

Owner Archie O’Leary added: “He looks very good hopefully will make a decent chaser next season. I told Ruby he stayed on board this time and got a rude reply!

“When Ruby put pressure on the horse, he responded very well. I thought he acted very well on this ground.

“We have great memories of Florida Pearl and whenever we are feeling down in the dumps we put the tapes on and it cheers us up.”

AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
€100,000 added, 4yo only, 2m, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Good to Yielding