Mullins and Townend strike at Warwick Paul Townend struck on his first ride at Warwick with a convincing success on Arbre De Vie for his boss Willie Mullins in the Download Titanbet App Novices' Hurdle. Arbre De Vie (11-10 favourite) was handily placed as 50-1 outsider Big Jim made the running before smoothly taking the lead approaching the second-last. The French-bred five-year-old, who had made a winning debut for Mullins and owner Rich Ricci at Fairyhouse in December, pulled clear to score by 11 lengths. Kingscourt Native, the winner's market rival, was seven lengths away in third. "He jumped well and galloped on well. I'm sure he can build on that again, we're still learning about him," said Townend. "I don't know how strong a race that was, but he couldn't have done it any better. He travelled well and when I gave him a squeeze up the straight he picked up well." The winner holds entries in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
