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Tullyhill impresses in novice hurdle at Punchestown with Cheltenham possibly on cards

Tullyhill could line up in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham
Tullyhill could line up in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham

Tullyhill could be bound for Cheltenham after making light work of the Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The six-year-old finished second in the Champion Bumper at the Festival last season, a result that followed a prior bumper success and a point to point win.

He was beaten by a significant margin on his hurdling debut in November but his jumping was much improved on his next start when he took a Naas maiden by seven lengths in January.

He started as the 6-5 favourite under Paul Townend at Listed level at Punchestown and made all the of the running, cruising to a nine-length victory having barely seen another rival.

Following the run, Tullyhill is as low as 5-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but Mullins will consult with owners Cheveley Park Stud before deciding on a Cheltenham bid.

He 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

Mister Policeman looked to get his career back on track with victory in the Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained chestnut was purchased by Rich Ricci after hurdles success in France as a four-year-old and got off the mark for new connections at the first time of asking.

His first Irish run was in a two-mile Cork hurdle last April, a race he won comfortably before graduating to fences at the start of this term.

His first attempt at Fairyhouse in November was a success and the gelding then headed to Naas in January and started as the favourite in a two-mile novice.

He was comprehensively beaten on that occasion as Quilixios came home in front with Sa Fureur behind him and Mister Policeman over eight lengths away from the winner in third.

At Punchestown the five-year-old looked to make amends for a sticky round of jumping last time and under Paul Townend he was much improved, travelling well as the 1-2 favourite in a field of five.

Rounding the final bend he was galloping along comfortably and was able to produce a neat jump at the last to pull away to a six-length victory.

Mullins said of the success: "He's still learning to jump and he'll probably be better going out in trip at some stage, but this race fitted nicely into his schedule. It will leave him nicely set up for the spring.

"I'd imagine he'll stay at home and there are plenty of good races to be won. He could go for a novice handicap."

Rachael Blackmore coaxed home Senior Chief to take the QuinnBet Beginners Chase over two miles and seven furlongs.

The 2-9 favourite had placed in two runs over fences so far and seemed to require a little persuasion throughout the race but scraped home to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

"Rachael said once she turned in she knew it was OK but I'm not so sure," winning trainer Henry De Bromhead said.

"He's done little wrong in fairness to him, and the handicapper might reassess him from a mark of 142.

"He looked laboured and Rachael said it's tough old ground. We'll look for a handicap now and see where we go from there.

"I'm delighted for the lads (Lucky In Life Syndicate) who are great supporters and a lot of them work at Regeneron in Limerick."

Where It All Began got off the mark over fences in the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown.

Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old had performed with credit in seven previous starts over fences but was yet to taste success in the discipline and was last seen winning in a maiden hurdle in January 2022.

Under Jack Kennedy, he stepped up to a staying trip of three miles and three furlongs for the first time at Punchestown and started as a 10-1 chance in a field of 15.

The gelding always looked comfortable but it was on the turn for home that the race became a test of stamina and it looked as though favourite We'llhavewan had the upper hand.

However, Where It All Began started to pick off his rivals, clearly relishing the extra distance as galloped home to take the Listed contest by an easy 16 lengths.

"He jumped great and never missed a beat the whole way," Kennedy said.

"It probably looked turning in that I was going to finish third but stamina really kicked in when we straightened up. I'm delighted with him.

"He's not reliant on heavy ground, just a test of stamina is what he wants.

"He'd been running well and threatened to do something like that.

As a result of the performance bookmakers slashed his price for the Grand National from 200-1 to 50-1, with weights for the Aintree contest revealed on Tuesday.

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