Paul Townend exuded confidence throughout on Mikael D'Haguenet in the Trinity Motor Neuron Disease Research Hurdle and it was well-justified as the strongly-backed favourite brought up a double for Willie Mullins following his win with Toostrong in the first at Fairyhouse.
When Head Of The Posse came with a surge to lead from the last, supporters of Mikael D'Haguenet would have been forgiven for having their doubts. However Townend knew better and he got a grand response from the Lavirco-gelding, still only a seven-year-old, to prevail by a comfortable length and a half at the finish.
Mullins, as a close friend of Colm Murray, suffering with the disease from which the race title derives, was no doubt happy to land this contest.
He said of the former three time Grade 1 winner: "That'll do wonders for the horse. It's his first win since the spring of 2009.
"He enjoys jumping hurdles and that'll give him plenty of confidence. We'll try to find a similar type of contest now and build him back up.
"The conditions of the today's race suited him perfectly and hopefully he can find his real form again now.
"He won't run in the Hatton's Grace tomorrow. I only left him in there on the slight off-chance of this meeting today being called-off." (AM & EM)
