El Fabiolo brought up a four-timer for Willie Mullins and a double for Paul Townend when finishing strongly in the two mile novice hurdle.

He went off 8/13 favourite on the back of being edged out by a neck in the Grade 1 novices' hurdle at Aintree.

Mullins ran four and the well-backed Ha D'or (10/1 - 11/2) led entering the straight before El Fabiolo got into full stride to pass him over the last.

The 'jolly' then went on by four lengths from his stablemate. De Capo Glory ran a fine race in third at 25/1.

Hurdles two and three were omitted due to low-lying sun reducing the number of hurdle jumped to seven.

Mullins said: “He’s a lovely horse, a real chaser in the making.

“He had a hard race in Aintree so to come back from that and put in a battling finish like he did there was very good.

“I’d imagine we will look forward to going chasing with him. He’s a big tall horse and is only learning how to race.”

Townend was on State Man for Mullins in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle. The trainer also saddled El Barra (ridden by Jack Foley) and Billaway (with Patrick Mullins on board) to win on the card.

Paddy Power kept El Fabiolo unchanged at 10/1 for the Arkle.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee