Racing: The Willie Mullins bandwagon rolled into Naas and the Co Carlow handler left with a treble courtesy of Jayo, Mikael D'Haguenet and Quadrillon. All three are serious contenders for Cheltenham Festival honours but it was Mikael D'Haguenet, the 1-3 winner of the Grade Two Goffs Slaney Hurdle, who created the most striking impression.
Carrying a Grade One penalty the imposing five-year-old brushed aside some useful rivals with an impressive turn of foot after the last under Ruby Walsh.
"He did everything right, they went a very slow pace which I think suited us a bit more than the form horses in the race and we were happy to sit in behind them," said Mullins.
"He quickened nicely away from a slow pace and it is pleasing when they can do that. It was nice for Ruby to sit on him today so both he and Paul (Townend) know him now because you never know what can happen with injuries.
"Weight carrying wouldn't be a problem because he is a big, leggy horse so the penalty was no problem.
"We'll tread carefully with regard to Cheltenham because he is nearly 17 hands high. If the ground came up dry I'd have to think hard about it, it's a winter game and I prefer winter ground. If he gets his ground he'd go, I'm keen and so are the owners.
"The obvious race (before Cheltenham) is the Deloitte (Leopardstown, February 8th) but I've got Hurricane Fly for that and there are plenty of other options for him later in the season. I wouldn't need to run him again.
"If I can find a nice race in February for him I would run him but I'm lucky enough to have a few nice horses and don't want them clashing just yet."
Walsh was mightily impressed, saying: "I've always liked him — I think he's a machine."
Walsh was also aboard Jayo (6-4) who was handed a 16-1 quote for the Arkle after an effortless success over a below-par Made In Taipan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
Mullins was also in the mark in the closing bumper — no surprise there — but the manner of Quadrillon's victory under his son Patrick in the Go Racing (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race was so impressive that he was handed a 10-1 quote by Cashmans for the Champion Bumper in March.