Jon Snow completed a hat-trick of consecutive hurdle wins when justifying 8/15 favouritism in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle at Killarney today, scoring for Champions, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend.

Sandwiched between Jon Snow's maiden hurdle win at Leopardstown in March and last month's Galway festival success was an unplaced effort on the flat in June but today he completed a jumping hat-trick when scoring comprehensively by 35 lengths from Skyace

Followers of the winning five year old son of Le Havre did have minor concerns though as he jinked right at the start and also blundered at the fourth last. However in the home straight, Jon Snow quickened right away from his rivals.

Afterwards Townend stated “he saw out the trip very well and there seemed to be no hiding places (regarding pace).

“His mistake four out knocked him back a little bit but once I grabbed hold of him, he was hard on it again turning-in and he stayed going well.

“We were on top of the tape at the start when it was left off and he shied from it, which wasn't ideal but thankfully it worked out.”