Tavern Times destroyed his rivals to run out an easy winner of the Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Tipperary.
The tightly packed field in the Grade 3 contest were all in a line at the fourth last but Davy Russell sent his mount on at the next.
Tom Mullins' charge had his rivals in trouble turning for home and the 4/5 favourite soon powered clear.
Russell kept his mount up to his work running to the last but he could afford to ease down on the run-in, virtually pulling up crossing the line to record a 17-length victory. Bleakfield Lady who had led early, stayed on again past beaten horses to secure the runner-up spot.
"I feel he's been getting better all the time. He's been showing more speed at home so I let him take his chance over two miles today," said Mullins.
"I wanted to see if he was good enough to go for the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. I also had Cheltenham in November in mind for him but I'd say the Royal Bond is his main target now.
"Even though he's won by 17-lengths he had a hard enough race there."
Gary Carson
