Kel collects on debut for Mullins

Kel Histoire looked like another nice French recruit for Willie Mullins when running out a cosy winner of the opening Mallow Maiden Hurdle at Cork this afternoon.

The JP McManus-owned gelding went to post a 4/5 shot on his Irish debut having won a bumper in his native land, before going through the ring for 200,000 euro.

Mark Walsh tracked the front-running Dream Diamond in the two-miler before moving up to challenge three from home.

The Masked Marvel gelding was asked to go and win his race before the final flight and a good jump there sealed matters as he went on to record a three-and-a-half length success.

Walsh said:- "He was very sticky over the first three but you wouldn't mind that on his first run over hurdles and he warmed into it, he jumped well.

“The further he went, the better he jumped.

"He was fine on that ground and I'd say he'll go on slower ground and will have no bother on winter ground."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)