Fusil Raffles proves a cut above for Henderson in Champion Four Year Old Hurdle

Twenty years on from Katarino's success in the same race, Nicky Henderson was at it again, with Fusil Raffles confirming the promising impression he had created at Kempton in landing the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle in good style.

The victory capped a fine Punchestown festival for Henderson's Seven Barrows yard, with three of the six runners winning, Buveur D'Air and O O Seven having also been successful.

The Daryl Jacob-ridden 13-8 favourite Fusil Raffles, who had injured himself in the process of running away with the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February, ended Willie Mullins' stranglehold on this Grade 1, with the champion trainer having won it for the past six years in a row.

For Henderson, it was a fourth triumph in the race as he had also hit the target with Punjabi in 2007 and Grandouet in 2011.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned winner was trimmed by some bookmakers for the 2020 Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but 25-1 was still available on Saturday night.

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Henderson said: "He's done very well to get back from that injury he suffered at Kempton, it was horrible. He had to miss Cheltenham, he had no chance of getting to Aintree so it was just whether we had time to get back for this.

"I was nervous whether he'd be quite ready for a battle like that, mentally and fitness-wise, because we started training him again only three weeks ago.

"He's got boots on his hind legs to protect him as the wound is still there. Fair credit to the vets who stitched him together, the guys at Kempton and in particular to Sarah, who looks after him – she worked her socks off. He's a tough horse and a good one."

Fakir D'Oudairies set the pace under Derek O'Connor and narrowly led after the second-last, but Fusil Raffles was travelling ominously well in behind.

Fusil Raffles hit the front approaching the last, produced a good jump and asserted on the run-in to prevail by two and three-quarter lengths from Fakir D'Oudairies, with the Mullins-trained French Made five lengths back in third.

Jacob said: "I was confident enough but Fakir D'Oudairies quickened again off the bend and just as I got to him he had a little bit of a blow.

"Hopefully he's got a big campaign ahead of him next season, you'd definitely expect improvement – when he won the Adonis it surprised us a little bit."

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