O’Keeffe completes Naas double, as Mullins bags treble Handicap debutante Jump Allen (8/1 to 9/2f) landed a late gamble to win Naas' Bar One Racing "Extra Place Races At The Cheltenham Festival" Handicap Hurdle, providing champion trainer Willie Mullins with a treble. A bumper winner last May and placed-third on his most recent maiden hurdle start at today’s venue in February, Jump Allen was debuting in handicaps rated 114 amongst 16 runners. Under jockey Sean O’Keeffe, who had won the half-hour earlier race on King In Love, Jump Allen improved from mid-field to lead at the last before beating American Money by 4.75 lengths. O’Keeffe commented “it got a bit tight around the home turn and in fairness to him he was good and brave to go through a narrow gap and get there. When he got the split he picked up nicely and won nicely going away: he found plenty when I got after him. “He’s learning, progressing away and hopefully he can keep doing that. The way he is improving, he should keep stepping forward.” Trainer Mullins had earlier scored with Redemption Day and Gaucher in the opening two races. Quotes from Gary Carson
