Mourad upsets hotpot Mikael in Boyne Hurdle
Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m5f 5yo+
IT wasn't the expected result for the Willie Mullins team, but Mourad made virtually all the running to give the champion trainer his first win in this Grade 2. It was a deserved success for the seven-year-old, who has too often been the bridesmaid, including in this race two years ago behind War Of Attrition.
Mourad (3-1) saw off his better-fancied stable companion and 4-11 favourite Mikael D'Haguenet, who was seeking a four-timer but was made to look pretty one-paced by the winner.
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But if anything this was simply a further boost for Big Buck's prospects of landing the big one for a fourth successive time, as he had Mourad 17 lengths back in third in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.
Paddy Power make the winner a 14-1 chance to turn the form around with the great champion in the World Hurdle, while they quote him at 6-1 in the market without the favourite. Mikael D'Haguenet has been eased out to 33-1 (from 16) with Boylesports.
Mullins said of his pair: “I was disappointed with Mourad's run at Cheltenham and we decided to change tactics and make the running here. It took him a few hurdles to get the hang of it, and this makes the decision of travelling [to Cheltenham] a bit easier.
“Mikael D'Haguenet was disappointing so I’ll have to think about that [travelling] now, but the other fellow found his form.”
It was expected that Mikael D'Haguenet would confirm favouritism having looked to be returning to something like his best this term.
However Mourad has always been very consistent, and having made much of the running, he had too much speed for the runner-up, who in finishing six and a half lengths adrift looked like he needed softer ground.
In the end it was a cosy victory for Mourad and a third success fromfour starts with Paul Townend up.
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