Mourad gave Willie Mullins his first Boyne Hurdle win at Navan with stable mate Mikael D'Haguenet finishing second.

Willie Mullins had two runners in the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan today but punters were least expecting Mourad to gain victory over stable mate Mikael D’Haguenet who was sent off the 4/11 favourite for the race.

Mikael D’Haguenet had started to get back into the swing of winning when he was reverted back to hurdles this season following a disastrous campaign over the larger obstacles the previous season.

Today Mikael D’Haguenet travelled well and came to challenge Mourad at the second last hurdle but Mourad found plenty under Paul Townend and kicked clear to record a six and a half length victory over his stable mate.

Speaking after the race, Willie Mullins said “I’m disappointed with Mikael D’Haguenet – you’d have to say that. I’ll have to think of plans now for him. On ratings there wasn’t much between the two of them but Mourad just found his form this year for the first time. We decided to change tactics today with Mourad and decided to make a lot more use with him and he seemed to enjoy it a lot better and didn’t do his travelling plans (to Cheltenham) any harm! He had been disappointing this year and I didn’t think he was back to his form.”

Mourad had been runner up to the talented mare Voler La Vedette on two occasions this season and it was the first win in the race for trainer Willie Mullins.

This win also boosted Big Bucks form for Cheltenham and landing a fourth consecutive World Hurdle as Mourad was seventeen lengths behind Big Bucks in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

Mourad has been cut into around the 14/1 mark with most firms for the World Hurdle on Day Three of the festival whilst stable mate Mikael D’Haguenet has drifted out to 33/1 and may not even head to Prestbury Park.

Liam Glynn

War of Attrition (7/1) continued his revival when claiming victory in Sundays Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan. Mouse Morris` brave warrior made all under Davy Russell to out-battle favourite Mourad with Ninetieth Minute back in third. Connections will be keenly awaiting the announcement of the weights for the Aintree Grand National on Tuesday and this grand old servant would be a popular fancy if allocated a not so hefty burden. The World Hurdle at the Festival may well be on the agenda also.

It was an interesting week-ends racing in Ireland with plenty of Grade 2′s dotted around the place. Some of the other highlights included -:

FEB 13th

GOWRAN PARK

• The first of the days twin Grade Two features was The Red Mills Trial Hurdle and it produced a good tussle between eventual winner Luska Lad(7/1), ridden by Davy Russel for John “Shark” Hanlon, and Jumbo Rio from the Edward O`Grady stable.Muirhead was sent off favourite for this contest but disappointed once again.

• The Red Mills Chase was the other Grade Two on the card and it proved to be a walk in the park for J`Y Vole(11/8F) who ran out the easy 15 Lengths winner under Paul Townend for the Willie Mullins stable which has very definitely started to fire on all cylinders in recent weeks.

• Davy Russell had a profitable week-end overall and fired in a treble on the card. In addition to his victory on Luska Lad he also guided Nuvelli (14/1) to victory for the S.Donoghue yard in the Handicap Chase and captured the Beginners Chase on Organisedconfusion(13/2) for Arthur Moore.

• Paul Townend and Willie Mullins completed their double on the card when Hampshire Express (4/1F) landed the Handicap Hurdle.

FEB 14^th

NAVAN

• In addition to the Boyne Hurdle there were 2 other Grade 2′s for the taking at Navan on Sunday. In the Ten Up Novice Chase there was a nail-biting finish and it resulted in a dead heat when Uimhiraceathair (4/6F), ridden by Ruby Walsh joined Telenor (6/1) and Andrew Lynch right on the line. The winning trainers were Willie Mullins and Jim Dreaper.

• The remaining Grade 2, The Flyingbolt Novice Chase, was won in good style by Shakervilz (3/1) for the irrepressible Ruby Walsh / Willie Mullins team. The winner comfortably held runner-up Major Finnegan by 1 and ¾ Lengths with Osana the slightly disappointing 11/10 Fav third home.

• Ruby Walsh followed up his Saturday 4-timer at Newbury with a treble at Navan and his and Willie Mullins` third victory on the card came courtesy of Kerb Appeal (2/1JF) in the Maiden Hurdle.

• Jockey Davy Russell is also booting in plenty of winners these days and he rounded off a very good week-end in the plate when completing a double on the card with victory on Lastoftheleaders(7/2F) for the Arthur Moore Stable in the Handicap Hurdle.

Trainers in form;

P.Fenton, A.Moore, E.O`Grady, W.Mullins.

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Happy Punting

JOE Q

Montana Slim is a useful handicapper at best while Sam Adams reverts to hurdles following a disappointing run over fences last time. On his Punchestown run last season he could enter the shakeup here but its likely Paul Nolan is using this as a confidence booster. Mourad and Ebadiyan are too enigmatic characters and while success for either would not be a surprise it is difficult to back them with confidence.

In the finish I think the race will be decided between Ninetieth Minute and Footy Facts. TomTaaffes charge was an impressive winner of a Coral Cup and this 2m 5f trip suits him much better than the 3miles over which he was beaten last time. Although sometimes looking less than willing I think its just his tail swishing more than ungenuineness that puts people away and he has done very little wrong. He also has a verdict over Solwhit from last season at Thurles.

Footy Facts was a very decent staying novice and has a course win around Navan to his credit. Although losing his way a little he won a decent 3miler at Gowran at the start of the season and has looked to be back to near his best. If it develops into a stamina test here then he is best placed to take advantage of it. The suggestion is an eachway bet on Ninetieth Minute provided he is a backable price. As already stated he will be ideally suited to race conditions and may have the tactical speed to outclass some of these.