Mullins enjoys his first winner of 2020 festival on day belonging to JP McManus

It took until the 14th race of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival but Willie Mullins finally entered the winner's enclosure as Ferny Hollow landed the Weatherbys Champion Bumper under Paul Townend.

The trainer was securing a record tenth success in the race, in which Ferny Hollow powered past stablemate and 15-8 favourite Appreciate It. The six-year-old won by two and a half lengths.

On getting his first winner at Prestbury Park this week, Mullins said: "It's great to get one on the stroke of halftime. Everyone was a little bit down and things weren't going quite right but maybe that's the turnaround."

Ferny Hollow finished second at odds-on in his first two starts under rules but got off the mark last month at Fairyhouse before Wednesday's Grade 1 victory. Mullins believes the addition of a hood has helped contribute to that change in form.

The Irish champion trainer added: "He ran too freely in his first two runs and it seems putting a hood on him has done the trick, along with more drastic tactics like holding him up.

"I thought passing the winning post the first time round that maybe Paul was too far back but I ended up eating my words! I think jumping will suit him a lot better.

"We'll head to the Punchestown Champion Bumper with him and Appreciate It next. It looks like we've got three good horses from that race."

Ferny Hollow is owned by Cheveley Park Stud, who won the race last year with Ballymore star Envoi Allen and will no doubt be hoping this year's winner can show the same potential next season.

Awesome foursome for McManus as Aramax lands Boodles

Owner JP McManus celebrated his fourth winner of the day – and fifth of the week – when the Gordon Elliott-trained Aramax landed the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle under Mark Walsh.

McManus dominated day two of the festival with Champ, Dame De Compagnie and Easysland on the mark before Aramax brought up the four-timer.

Always travelling well in mid-divison under Walsh, Aramax took up the running approaching the last and touched down with a slight lead.

Night Edition challenged Aramax close home, but the 15-2 winner always had his measure to provide Elliott with a double on the day following Envoi Allen's victory in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

The trainer, who also saddled the third Saint D'Oroux and fourth Recent Revelations, said: "I was very worried about the ground for the winner and all my horses have run very well. The horses have been flying all week, we've got three on the board and plenty of places.

"JP is a big supporter of the yard, so it's nice to get winners for him."

Aramax: won the Boodles by a lengthCredit: Dan Mullan (Getty Images)

McManus won the race registered as the Fred Winter for the second year in a row following last year's success with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Band Of Outlaws.

Aramax completed the same double as Band Of Outlaws last year, having warmed up for the race with victory in a novice hurdle at Naas last month.

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