Willie Mullins was a notable absentee from this year's Fairyhouse Easter Festival as his stable enjoyed a rich vein of form.
The Closutton maestro has been firing in the winners over the weekend, including eight winners between Fairyhouse and Cork on Easter Sunday.
It has been notable, though, that the 66-year-old has not been at either racecourse over the Easter Weekend to watch his horses run.
READ MORE: Willie Mullins lands 113,999/1 Easter accumulator ahead of Irish Grand National
But his assistant trainer David Casey revealed after the victory of Asterion Forlonge in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse that Mullins was recuperating after hip replacement surgery.
Casey said that Mullins wanted to avoid the big crowds at the Meath venue after having the surgery two weeks ago.
The champion trainer plans to be back at the racecourse for the Punchestown Festival at the end of the month.
Mullins ran three in Monday's Irish Grand National in I Am Maximus, Tenzing and Dolcita, with Paul Townend choosing the JP McManus-owned I Am Maximus, who won the €500,000 contest.
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