Espresso Milan scores on stable debut for Willie Mullins Having shown promise in three bumper runs for Fergal O'Brien, Espresso Milan made an immediate impact on his first outing for Willie Mullins when keeping on strongly to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown. Sent off a well backed 8/11f (from 11/8), the Stewart Andrew owned five-year-old tracked the pace from the off under Paul Townend. Pushed along in third after the penultimate flight, the son of Milan looked in trouble entering the straight but as stamina began to kick in, he closed on leaders Blue Velvet and Newbrook Diamond on the approach to the last. Heading stablemate Blue Velvet on landing, Espresso Milan kept on best on the run-in to prevail by one-and-a-half lengths. Townend said: “It was a nice performance, he was very professional in the way he raced and was a great ride. “I thought he quickened nicely off a sedate pace but he’ll have no bother getting further as well. “He’s probably going to be seen best over further. He jumped brilliant and will jump a fence in time.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
