Another possible bumper star for Mullins

Willie Mullins completed a double on the day as Balko Des Flos ridden by his son Patrick, made all for a convincing success in the bumper at Leopardstown.

The French-bred stayed on really well in the straight to justify odds-on favouritism in this four-year-old's event.

The 9/10 favourite had too many guns in the final quarter mile for Jett a half-brother to Champion Hurdler Jezki as well as other Grade 1 winners Jetson and Jered, beating that rival by three lengths.

The remainder were well strung out behind with Be My Sea another 11 lengths back in third.

Willie Mullins said, "He did what he's being showing me all winter.

"He had one blip and his last work was bad but we took a chance and ran thinking that that was something out of the ordinary. There didn't appear to be anything afterwards.

"Patrick said he's a good strong horse and he galloped all the way to the line. He didn't get tired. He's a good staying type and is going to keep improving.

"He's certainly qualified to go to Cheltenham and we'll think about it and see. There are races to be won at home too.

"A strong stayer is what you need at Cheltenham. The owners don't have any objections about going there. Last year they just didn't have one that was good enough."

(GC & AM)