Breaken impressive on Irish debut

Breaken was a hotpot on his Irish debut in the opening maiden hurdle at Limerick this evening and put on an impressive front-running show to land the odds.

Willie Mullins' French recruit went to post a 1/2 in the two miler and was soon in front under Paul Townend.

The Joe Donnelly-owned five-year-old went clear before the third flight and never saw another rival afterwards.

Townend took a pull before the second last, coming back to his field slightly, but then he went on again before the final flight to record a facile 17-length success. Calicojack won the battle for second, a head in front of Touch Of Oscar

Breaken had been placed over hurdles in his native land and was making his first outing since June 2017.

Mullins said afterwards:- "He just wasn't right for me all season but I felt with his size and scope, and I have him long enough, that I wanted to get him out and running and maybe go chasing next season with him.

"It's a pity to have one like him at this stage of the season but it's nice to have one like that at any stage of the year.

"Paul said he was a passenger for two and a quarter miles, in a two mile race as he couldn't pull him, both on the way to the start and after the race. He was very free and I wouldn't want to go flat racing with him.

"He has a huge engine and I'll look to Fairyhouse or Punchestown next and going 2m4f will be no bother to him."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)