Columbus Sets Sail in Galway The Willie Mullins-trained Columbus (10/11 fav) was an impressive winner of the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle for jockey Paul Townend. Following a second-place effort over hurdles in Killarney, the son of Oasis Dream was a lot more professional as he displayed a solid round of jumping throughout the contest. When given his command by Paul Townend, he surged clear up the hill to pull away from his rivals and win by seven and a half lengths from stablemate Leader Allen, who ran well on his stable debut. Speaking after the race, trainer Willie Mullins said: "We held him up in Killarney as he hadn't any experience over hurdles but, with that experience under his belt, we decided to change tactics and to make the running today. I thought he gave an exhibition of jumping for a horse having only his second run over hurdles. "I don't know why he disappointed at Royal Ascot but Colin (Keane) said he just didn't stay, and maybe he was right. "The Ebor in York is his next run and we'll see how he gets on there, but I'll be looking at mixing a Flat/jumping campaign. We'll see what happens on the Flat and if he looks good enough, we'll pursue that, but I'd also like to have him for the spring festivals at Cheltenham and Aintree." (Quotes from Tom Weekes)
