Mullins and Townend double up with Dreamtide

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend enjoyed a quick-fire double at Kilbeggan as Dreamtide held on from fast-finishing Melly And Me in the Coola Maiden Hurdle.

Dreamtide, making her jumps debut for Mullins after three races in England on the Flat, collared Reaver on the run-in but still had to fend off Melly And Me.

The latter thrust home to get to within a head of the 2/1 favourite. Melly And Me was nicely backed from 80/1 in the morning and 33/1 on opening show down to 16/1 on the off. Jensen got up for third from Reaver at 33/1.

Willie Mullins said: "It was nice to get her off to a winning start.

“We'll stay over hurdles for the time being but I'll go back on the Flat with her later on in the season.

“Being a half-sister to Wicklow Brave it's nice to have her.

“She was very green once she got in front and Paul said she just dropped everything but she hadn't many runs on the Flat either and he thinks she's still learning.

“She'll hopefully improve from that and going on that ground is a big benefit.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson