Mighty Potter cracks Mullins pair

Gordon Elliott's Mighty Potter (20/1) won Punchestown's remarkable Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle today, defeating a pair of Willie Mullins trained runners including hot pot and Cheltenham winner Sir Gerhard

Mullins sportingly ran Ballymore Hurdle winner Sir Gerhard (4/7f) against stablemate and Cheltenham faller Dysart Dynamo (13/8) in the five-runner race, with Elliott's pair Mighty Potter and Vina Ardanza (66/1), joined by another outsider Gatsby Grey (100/1).

The race proved to be a bookmaker benefit, as winning jockey Jack Kennedy provided a riding masterclass on Might Potter, who had Sir Gerhard in a pocket with half a mile to race and then took the inside rail as free-going leader Dysart Dynamo faded.

Mighty Potter was clear when blundering the last but, on the run-in held Gatsby Grey by four lengths. Sir Gerhard weakened for third while Dysart Dynamo finished tailed off.

Elliott, whose Party Central won the opener, quipped “it's brilliant to win the first two races - I know it's not going to be smooth sailing all week and when Willie gets going it will probably be like a steam train!”

He added “I'm very lucky with all the support I have in the yard and being honest, I thought Party Central was my best chance of the day. I was humming and hawing whether I'd run this horse (Mighty Potter) - we walked the track a couple of times and said we'd take our chance.

“I thought Jack gave him a beautiful ride, he held his position the whole way.

“The horse is a chaser for the future and we're very happy.

“He did the splits and was lame for a few days after Cheltenham, nothing seriously wrong with him but he just wasn't right and came home very light. That was great and he'll going chasing next year.”

Regarding his beaten horses, trainer Mullins later reported “Sir Gerhard was beaten here last year and maybe he doesn't like Punchestown.

“Dysart Diamond had a heart fibrillation so that's what happened him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson