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PATRICK MULLINS produced a masterful ride to steal the Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Classic winner Wicklow Brave.
It was the highlight of a fantastic treble for the jockey that put his trainer father Willie in the driving seat in the race for the Irish trainers’ title.
The jockey allowed Wicklow Brave, last year’s Irish St Leger victor, to gallop into an uncontested lead more than five furlongs out as he was jumping and travelling so well.
They quickly pulled well clear and were still out in front turning for home. The pair managed to repel the late challenge of My Tent Or Yours and ® Arctic Fire, with Labaik back in fourth, to land the £150,000 first prize.
Wicklow Brave won the Leger on the Flat last September before flopping in the Melbourne Cup. He was only eighth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March where he appeared reluctant to start.
But the Mullins team were hoping first-time blinkers would fire him up – and they were right.
Patrick said: “He jumped fantastic. I didn’t think we were going a mad gallop and I said I’d take a chance and just let him enjoy himself.
“It’s a massive thrill and I’m very grateful to everyone involved. It’s nice to ride a Classic winner over hurdles!”
Although stablemate and hot favourite Vroum Vroum Mag faded out of contention, this was the seventh victory in the race for trainer Mullins in the past eight years.
Nicky Henderson’s veteran My Tent Or Yours had to settle for second again while Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victor Labaik, who refused to race on Tuesday, consented to start this time.
Half an hour later, Mullins completed a double by bringing his father’s Bacardys with a late run to chin Finian’s Oscar in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle.
And he completed the treble on Montalbano in the Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle to put father Willie almost £100,000 clear of Gordon Elliott in the race for the Irish trainers’ title.