Funicula makes impressive start for Mullins Funiculi Funicula stayed on strongly in the closing stages to make an impressive start for Willie Mullins in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel. Not many got into the two-miler with the eventual winner and Addragoole going on from the field with a circuit to run. The latter pressed the 4/7 favourite for most of the trip but came under pressure early in the straight. He was well held in second when taking a tired fall at the final flight and Funiculi Funicula was left to come home a facile 17 length winner under Paul Townend. The winner had been second on his sole outing in France back in October 2023.  Townend said:- “He’s a nice horse and on the form of the race in France he was entitled to do that. What he had been showing us at home was nice.   “I thought we went a good gallop for the ground, and we were spread out the length of Clonmel.   “You are probably going quicker than you feel on him. Everything is very natural and very easy to him.   “We like him a lot and hopefully he has a bright future.” Paddy Power made the winner 16/1 (from 33/1) for the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle and 20/1 (from 40/1) for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. (Quotes by Alan Magee)
