Battling Blizzard wins on hurdling debut

Aintree festival bumper-placed Blizzard Of Oz justified 5/4 favouritism in winning his first jumps race today, landing Punchestown's William Hill Play Responsibly Maiden Hurdle to give his trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend doubles.

Grade 2-placed at the English Grand National meeting last April, the son of Arctic Cosmos was held up in mid-field today and eventually wore down runner-up Killaney King for a two lengths win.

Townend, earlier successful on Mullins' Embassy Gardens said “he jumped every hurdle differently and can only improve. I think there is a good jump in him because at the last in the back straight I had to ask him for one and he came, but was unsure of himself.

“I went from travelling to being flat-out very quickly but he's won and stayed going well. He toughed it out well and had to be tough in that ground."

Quotes from Gary Carson