Flyer makes perfect start to hurdles career

Tornado Flyer made the perfect start to his career over flights, as he comfortably accounted for his seventeen rivals in the Punchestown Racecourse Of The Year Maiden Hurdle.

Successful on debut at Fairyhouse in January, the Willie Mullins (third winner of the day) trained bay then finished third at the Cheltenham Festival, before taking the Grade 1 Racing Post Champion INH Flat Race over the course in April.

Sent off the 4/9 favourite this afternoon, the son of Flemensfirth raced mainly in third under Ruby Walsh, and jumped slightly left at times.

He was switched to the outer to challenge on the approach to the last, and soon got to the front, keeping on well from there to score comfortably two and three parts of a length.

The front-running Take Revenge ran a fine race to take second at 50/1 under Donal McInerney for Martin Brassil, while Dream Conti (10/1) was another three and three parts of a length back in third, with Sean Flanagan aboard this one for Noel Meade.

"Ruby said he was very keen," said Mullins.

"It was nice to get his maiden win. We'll look at Christmas and well look at the race (Grade 1) at Naas in January."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson