'I should probably quit while I'm ahead' - another Willie Mullins ace for Harry Cobden as Absurde lands Sussex Champion Hurdle

Willie Mullins descended on East Sussex with one race in mind and, as recent years have shown, when he has a target he rarely misses. 

Four of the trainer's five runners were aimed at the day's biggest prize as he attempted to reduce the deficit between himself and Dan Skelton in the British jumps trainers' championship and he took a sizeable chunk out of his rival's lead when Absurde led home a one-two for the yard in the Sussex Champion Hurdle.

With an Ebor and a County Hurdle already to his name, the well-travelled seven-year-old is not the typical stamp of horse to compete at Plumpton and he outclassed the field in authoritative fashion, sweeping clear by four and a quarter lengths from stablemate Daddy Long Legs. 

Winning jockey Harry Cobden had ridden for Mullins just once before this month, but he is now two wins from three starts for the trainer as he followed up his Scottish National success last week with another pitch-perfect ride on the 9-4 favourite. 

"I'm two from three for Willie now, I'll take that," Cobden said. "I should probably quit while I'm ahead. Paul [Nicholls] had one in the race with a very light weight, which I'd struggle to do, so he let me off him to ride this lad. It's great, we all work together and I've got a good agent in Sam Stronge. He sorts the job out, I just turn up and ride them.

"The plan was to jump in and get him settled as he's had a tendency to be keen in the past. They went nice and fast early, so I didn't have any problems there and he jumped brilliantly. When you're on a horse with so much class it's almost easy. He's got so many options, you'd have a lot of fun owning him."

There was some compensation for Dan Skelton in the following 2m3½f handicap chase when Shakeyatailfeather prevailed in a photo-finish to win for the second time in four days.

Derham delivers

Jasmine D'Airy finally lived up to her promise in the opening mares' maiden hurdle with an emphatic success under Ben Sutton.

The odds-on favourite had been second on her last two starts, but finally struck on British soil when she came home 24 lengths clear after a round of enthusiastic jumping. 

"She's been a bit frustrating all season," said trainer Harry Derham. "We changed her bit today and Ben said that's the nicest ride he's had off her. I'm delighted for Nick [Sutton, owner] and Ben as we've had three seconds, so it's great to finally have that winner."

Winning machine

My Friend Sean has been a surprise package for Tom Lacey and Cameron Iles this season and he delivered once more with his fourth win in five starts in the 2m1½f handicap hurdle. 

"He's been brilliant," Iles said. "We don't know his ceiling as we didn't think he was well handicapped six months ago, but he's won four times since. It's taken him a long time to get into this rhythm but he's gotten a lot better with time." 

Read more:

Spindleberry follows in illustrious footsteps by winning Fairyhouse Grade 1 and Punchestown could be next 

Mister Policeman bounces back in style to prove fitting winner of Michael O'Sullivan Chase 

'I’m absolutely thrilled to get to such a number' - delight for Alex Hales after landmark success 

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