Alelchi Inois soars over the last in Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Strong-travelling Alelchi Inois had enough up his sleeve to see off a rallying Bayan at the end of two and a half miles in the Family Day Out August 3rd Hurdle at Cork.
Paul Townend hunted him round in a close-up third as Bayan set the pace in front of Indevan on the outer.
After the third last though, stablemates Alelchi Inois on the inside and Indevan on the outside moved ahead of Bayan and disputed the lead.
Townend sat motionless on Alelchi Inois after the second last as Ruby Walsh went for the whip on Indevan in second. Alelchi Inois opened up approaching the last and jumped it a healthy two lengths in front.
The 9/10 favourite Bayan battled back to be almost on terms with Indevan at the penultimate flight. He stayed on well to get within three parts of a length of Alelchi Inois (5/2) who had flown on the run-in.
Paul Townend said: "He needs that ground and is a decent horse on it. He was a bit rusty over his hurdles but hopefully he'll come on for the run and I imagine he'll go to Galway for something now."
This gave trainer Willie Mullins a quick double as he landed the first race with New Kid In Town
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
