Atlantique too strong for Grade 2 rivals

The Willie Mullins-trained Ile Atlantique asserted on the run-in for a cosy victory in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas.

Paul Townend had the Coastal Path gelding to the fore throughout in the Grade 2 contest, run over two miles.

The three market principals jumped the second last upsides, with Firefox and Inthepocket throwing down their challenges.

Townend looked to be holding on to a bit on the eventual winner though and when he asked the 13/8 shot for an effort after the last he soon went on to record a five-length win over Firefox.

The winner had been narrowly denied in the Grade 1 novice hurdle on this card 12 months ago and is now two from two over fences.

Mullins said:- “His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else.

“He’s matured a lot and got stronger than last year which is a big help, and fences might just be the making of him. Paul says when he sees a fence he measures it himself and it just seems natural to him.

“We just have to keep that improvement in him for the season. His season tapered off a bit last year and maybe it was because of the drying ground in the spring.

“He’s one that we can now go two or two and a half.

“We’ll look at the Dublin Racing Festival and see which direction we go.

“Majborough would be in the two miles and maybe he could go along with him. We have a few for the 2m5f.

“The 2m5f race at the Dublin Racing Festival would look the place where Ballyburn would go.”

Both Paddy Power and Betfair made the winner 8/1 (from 20/1) for the Arkle at Cheltenham.

It was a double on the card for Willie Mullins, following the opening race victory of Fun Fun Fun

(Quotes by Alan Magee)