Hobson hands Mullins a lifeline heading to Punchestown

Perhaps he has too much ground to make up over the final few furlongs at Punchestown next week, but Willie Mullins salvaged something out of the final day of Fairyhouse's Easter serving thanks to Thomas Hobson, who was an emphatic winner of the €100,000 Glascarn Handicap Hurdle.

Thomas Hobson's triumph handed Mullins a valuable €59,000, although Veinard followed him home to add another €20,000 into Gordon Elliott's kitty, so the defending champion will need to break records he himself has set at Punchestown if he is to keep his crown.

Mullins wore a bemused look after the rather straightforward three-length success of Thomas Hobson, and he told us why. "It's a surprise with that weight over that trip," he admitted. "I think he wants a longer trip and I'd like to step up in trip next time.