Paul Townend warmed up for a huge week at the Cheltenham Festival with victory aboard Redemption Day in the opening race at Naas on Sunday.
Townend will be the envy of most if not all other riders in the weighing room at Prestbury Park, with the likes of Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Kopek Des Bordes, Mares’ Hurdle odds-on shot Lossiemouth, defending Champion Hurdle hero State Man and, of course, Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick seeker Galopin Des Champs to look forward to.
Grade One-winning bumper horse Redemption Day was an 8-15 favourite to open his account over obstacles at the third attempt in the Bar One Racing "Guaranteed Multiples All Shops" Maiden Hurdle and while it was hard work, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding knuckled down on the run-in to beat Come Walk With Me by a length and three-quarters.
"That was nice. He settled nicely, which was good for him," said Townend.
"He has the engine, but things probably haven’t gone right for him for a couple of seasons. Hopefully he can have a nice spring on the back of that."
On being able to ride State Man and Lossiemouth on Tuesday after Mullins ultimately decided to keep the latter against her own sex rather than bid for Champion Hurdle glory, he added: "I couldn’t be happier, hopefully we’re as happy on Tuesday evening!
"I won’t have a terribly busy week, but I’ve a lot of classy horses to ride and if we can get a good Tuesday it makes the rest of the week a bit shorter."
Mullins completed a quickfire double in the Bar One Racing "100% Acca Boosts On Self-Service Bet Terminals" Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, with 20-1 shot Gaucher springing a surprise.
Ridden by Brian Hayes, the six-year-old pulled eight and a half lengths clear of 13-8 favourite Goraibhmaithagat, with Olly Murphy’s British raider Pleasington a disappointing seventh of eight.
"It was a very good performance giving weight to everything. I thought the track might suit him, around the inside. He’s a small, tidy, well-balanced horse. It proved right and it’s nice to get it," said Hayes.
"He has plenty of pace and he rolls nicely into and out of bends. Hopefully he might win a few more."
The champion trainer went on to complete a four-timer, with Jump Allen justifying 9-2 favouritism in the Bar One Racing 'Extra Place Races At The Cheltenham Festival' Handicap Hurdle under Sean O’Keeffe and Olympic Man scoring at 11-8 in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ Beginners Chase.
Danny Mullins was on board the latter, and said: "He’s not becoming a good jumper but he’s getting good at being a bad jumper! Even the mistakes he’s making throughout he’s not losing ground. The only one really was when we were off the bridle going to the last, he lost a length there.
"Once I galloped away from it I always felt that I was picking Darragh (O’Keeffe, riding Foxy Girl) up, and he was good and tough up the hill."
Oliver McKiernan's Bushmans Pass bounced back to form with a battling victory in the Bar One Racing Leinster Nationa.
Previously successful three times over fences, the nine-year-old made a promising return from 10 months off the track when fifth in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January, but was then pulled up as favourite for the Grand National Trial at Punchestown last month.
Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the nine-year-old was a 12-1 shot for his latest big-race assignment and got the better of a protracted duel with Hartur d’Arc on the run-in by half a length in the hands of Phillip Enright.
"It was borderline whether we were going to run him," said McKiernan. "I said if the ground was drying out there was no point in running him as he has leg trouble and stuff. Before we thought he wanted loose, soft ground, but maybe we’re wrong.
"He won a good race in Navan about this time last year and he’ll get an entry in the Irish National now. He was 127 there and will probably go up 6lb. He could be a horse for it now."
