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Two from two for Mullins thanks to Duc Des Genievres

Paul Townend sailed home aboard an imperious Duc Des Genievres
Paul Townend sailed home aboard an imperious Duc Des Genievres

Duc Des Genievres made it two wins out of two for Willie Mullins at the 2019 Festival, with an even more convincing success in an eventful Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase.

Paul Townend was the jockey this time, with Walsh watching on, as the grey surged clear to win by 13 lengths at 5-1 from Us And Them.

Several of the Grade One race's main contenders fell by the wayside early, Glen Forsa exiting at the fourth fence and Ornua then falling and bringing down Kalashnikov - while Lalor was pulled up in rain-soaked conditions which were not to his liking.

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With trainer Mullins having already teamed up with Ruby Walsh to land the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle with Klassical Dream, Duc Des Genievres was a 5-1 shot to follow up in the hands of Paul Townend.

The result was scarcely in doubt, with the six-year-old grey fencing fluently throughout the two-mile contest in behind the pacesetting Knocknanuss, before taking over the lead still full of running before the home turn.

Clondaw Castle briefly looked a threat, but soon weakened as Duc Des Genievres found another gear in the straight to leave his rivals trailing in his wake.

Us And Them came home best of the rest, but passed the post some 13 lengths behind the dominant winner.

However Mullins' winning sequence was not extended in race three as Nicky Henderson instead got up and running thanks to Beware The Bear's one-and-a-quarter-length victory at 10-1 under Jeremiah McGrath in the Ultima Handicap Chase.

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