Proactif makes up for Triumph disappointment with Grade 2 win Having run below par when sent off favourite for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Willie Mullins trained Proactif resumed winning ways when leading home a stable 1-2-3 in the Grade 2 O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Well supported prior to the race, the J.P. McManus owned four-year-old was sent off 5/4f under Mark Walsh. Sitting second for much of the race, Proactif headed stablemate Kai Lung after jumping three out. Strongly pressed by Macho Man on the run to the penultimate flight, Proactif was briefly headed before the last but rallied in game fashion to win by a neck. Mark Walsh said: "It was good to see him doing that after the disappointment at Cheltenham. The Cheltenham ground was just too quick for him. "This lad is a brilliant jumper. He never travelled or never jumped at Cheltenham, so the bit easier ground today suited him perfect. "Sean went a nice gallop but once they jumped the hurdle out of Ballyhack he kind of slowed up to the fourth last and third last and, this lad winged by him at the third last. "All this lad does is gallop, so I was happy to be there." Willie Mullins added: “It was a tough performance. Mark said he let himself down today on the ground, there was a nice dig in it. He didn’t let himself down at all the last day. “It’s nice to have one like him. The first three will all make their name, I think, in the next few years. “He’s a fine big horse that can go jumping fences, the same with the second horse. I could see Majolique staying over hurdles. Things didn’t go right for her but she’s a fair mare too.” When asked if the winner could turn out again at Punchestown he added:- “I’d imagine so, he’ll have a good long rest for the summer so we’ll keep him working now until Punchestown. “There is plenty of time between now and Punchestown, it will be the last race of the season so if they recover well from here they’ll go there.” Paddy Power went 50/1 (from 66/1) Proactif for the Champion Hurdle. Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
