'He looks a real one' - Mullins delighted as Klassical Dream bolts up in Supreme

There was no quiet before the storm. There never is at the Cheltenham Festival. Testing conditions, for racegoers and horses, did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm before the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and the sight of Ruby Walsh tanking down the hill on a well-fancied Willie Mullins raider served only to send a large contingent into frenzy.

A wide-open looking Supreme was simply torn apart by Klassical Dream, who had won both of his starts in Ireland without suggesting he possessed the superstar quality which was devastatingly exposed in this four-and-a-half-length triumph.

This was a sixth Supreme victory for Mullins and the Irish champion trainer revealed it had not come as a surprise.

He said: "We took a risk running him on quickish ground in Ireland but we knew he had a fair engine all along.

"He's a very good horse. He worked last week at the Curragh and we came away thinking here's one who's going to take a lot of beating, no matter what he comes up against."

Klassical Dream pings the last to win the Supreme Novices' HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Klassical Dream, racing keenly in a prominent position under Walsh, caught the eye with how strongly he was travelling and the only danger approaching the final flight was in front rather than behind.

"He was always travelling well," Mullins said. "He looks a real one, especially in this type of ground, and we know he can go up in trip – no problem.

"I want to see what he can do over hurdles, but he'll jump fences as well. He's a brilliant jumper, I don't think he missed a beat out there."

The way Mullins – a man who has sent out stars such as Vautour and Douvan to win this race – enthused about Klassical Dream spoke volumes, as with Walsh, who said it felt as if he was "doing only a half-speed".

Ruby Walsh punches the air as he is led back in on Klassical DreamCredit: Grossick Racing

The most successful rider in Cheltenham Festival history, who extended his tally to 59, said: "He'd improved a hell of a lot since Leopardstown. He was always travelling, jumped like a stag and stayed at it well."

The winner was chased home by Thomas Darby and Itchy Feet, both trained by Olly Murphy, who was unsurprisingly proud of his representatives.

He said: "I'm never happy finishing second and third, but they both did me proud and are horses who should win loads of races.

"I thought they were two nice horses. They were big prices but I've always been bold about the pair of them and there was no fluke about their runs.

"They were my second and third festival runners. To be here in my first full season training with two runners in the Supreme, let alone finish second and third, is brilliant."

Juvenile Fakir D'Oudairies, the 9-2 joint favourite with Al Dancer for the Sky Bet-backed race, stayed on to finish fourth having been outpaced.

Result, replay and analyses

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