Willie Mullins landed a sensational 234/1 four-timer on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Minella Cocooner, Vauban, Blue Lord and Facile Vega all won their respective races as Mullins added to his impressive record at the meeting.
The champion trainer's day got off to a winning start when Minella Cocooner landed the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle under a brilliant ride from the Carlow handler's nephew Danny Mullins.
Sporting a hood for the first time, Minella Cocooner was allowed an easy lead at the head of affairs, with his rider injecting pace into the race at various stages before easing off again.
Although he looked a sitting duck with three furlongs to run, with Davy Russell moving up menacingly on the favourite Hollow Games, Minella Cocooner (11-1) was just waiting in front.
When Mullins pushed the button he took three lengths out of the field and immediately had the rest in trouble and his jockey was once again celebrating Grade One success on a supposed second-string from the stable.
Paul Townend had chosen stablemate Bronn and while he briefly threatened, he eventually faded out of contention.
But Townend was successful in the second contest as Vauban powered to victory in the Racing TV Spring Juvenile Hurdle.
Beaten on his only previous start by Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper, who has subsequently bolted up at Cheltenham, this time Elliott took him on with Fil Dor.
Fil Dor had done nothing wrong over hurdles prior to this Grade One assignment, winning all three starts including a Grade Two over Christmas.
Understandably he was sent off the 6-5 favourite with Mullins’ Vauban a 9-4 chance on just his second start.
Vauban’s jumping could have been slicker, but when Townend moved him into contention on the turn from home, he made Fil Dor look decidedly one-paced.
The Rich Ricci-owned Vauban pulled three lengths clear and is now 11-4 second-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle with Betfair behind 5-2 market leader Pied Piper. Fil Dor was pushed out to 6-1.
And in the Patrick Ward & Co Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase, Blue Lord held off the late rally of Riviere D’etel to win under Townend.
The seven-year-old arrived unbeaten in two starts over fences, but he did not jump as slick as he had done previously in the early stages as stablemate Saint Sam set a strong early gallop under Rachael Blackmore.
The pace caught out another Mullins runner, Haut En Couleurs, who was an early faller.
By halfway Saint Sam had really strung the field out, but Jack Kennedy was intent on keeping tabs on the leader aboard Elliott’s Riviere D’etel.
The mare took up the running and held an advantage running to the last, with Townend at pains to keep in touch on Blue Lord (5-2) which proved vital as Riviere D’etel made a mistake and lost all momentum.
Blue Lord got away from the fence the quicker but crossed in front of Riviere D’etel, causing Kennedy to switch on his mount and she then began to rally, closing to within half a length. But while the stewards had a look, the placings remained unaltered.
Betfair left the winner unchanged at 11-4 for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month.
Asterion Forlonge was sent off the 5/2 favourite for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, but could only manage to finish fourth behind the winner Conflated, who was very impressive under Davy Russell for Elliott.
Mullins completed the four-timer when Facile Vega bolted up in the Goffs Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race under the trainer's son Patrick.
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
