'Different horse' Narciso Has gives Mullins quick-fire Grade One double Narciso Has rolled home off the front in the Grade One Gannon's City Recovery Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown to decisively overturn form with Mange Tout. Gordon Elliott's Mange Tout beat him into second in a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse in November, however, Narciso Has subsequently won a Grade 2 at Leopardstown over Christmas by a whopping 11 lengths. The even-money favourite made the running under Mark Walsh and the pair had Mange Tout and Jack Kennedy in their slipstream racing to the penultimate flight. Mange Tout came off the bridle swinging for home as Narciso Has really ground it out at the head of affairs. The leader increased the advantage to a healthy three lengths in tackling the last and galloped home well to take the honours by four and a-half lengths from stablemate Selma De Vary, who got up for second at 17/2 on her Irish debut. This gave Willie Mullins a quick-fire double after Doctor Steinberg's win in the opening Grade One, and he said: "It was a very good performance, he did it the hard way from the front. “He settles lovely in front, jumps well in front, and has enough for a kick at the end. “He’s mature as well and, looking at him, I think he’s going to make into a nice chaser. He’s a fine, big, specimen of a horse. “I liked him from the first day that he came in. He was very green the first day that he ran, but he’s learning all the time. “He has his two ears pricked going down the back the whole way. He seemed well within himself and well able to handle himself.” On runner-up Selma De Vary, he said: “She missed a lot of time and I think she’ll improve a good bit for that run. “She was a little bit green going to the last. Paul (Townend) brought her wide, he didn’t want to get involved with the others. “I think she’s a filly that has a big future.” When asked if she could be a dual purpose sort he added: “I’m not so sure about that. “She looked quite hot and we rode her out the back for that reason. I’m not sure whether Flat racing would enhance her ability at all. We’ll see, we’ll get through the season first. “She looks like one for the Triumph as well and that possibly back to Punchestown. We could also go to the race in Fairyhouse, we’ll see.” Mark Walsh added: "Brilliant! "He's a different horse from the first day I rode him in Fairyhouse - his first run in Ireland, out of France, and he was a big baby and was behind the bridle the whole way. "I made all the running there today and just a different horse completely. "I was good and long at the last - I could hear the boys coming, so I had to go for it and, in fairness to this lad, he has loads of scope. he came there and winged it. "He's a lovely horse. He's a great ride, you just pop out in front there and he doesn't bat an eyelid. Even going down to a hurdle, he is so easy to ride. He's a joy. "Hopefully (plenty more to come), it is only his fourth run so you'd be hoping to improve with every run." Paddy Power made Narciso Has 11/10 favourite from 5/2 for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (non runner no bet). Additional reporting by Gary Carson
