Mullins eyeing Cheltenham following Leinster National 1-2-3

Willie Mullins has kept the home fires burning ahead of next week's Cheltenham festival as his Pairofbrowneyes won the Toalsbet Leinster National for the second successive year to lead home a 1-2-3 for the Champion Trainer, who also bagged a double on the day.

Mullins' stand-in stable jockey Paul Townend partnered both winners, having won with impressive beginners' chase winner Chacun Pour Soi and doubled the score with Pairofbrowneyes who beat off stablemates Isleofhopendreams by five lengths with Bellow Mome completing the placings in third.

Last year's renewal of the race was run at Gowran, due to unsuitably wet conditions at Naas, and was Pairofbrowneyes' first start for trainer Mullins with Townend also doing the steering then.

Mullins wasn't present at today's fixture with bigger fish to fry next week and following the race Townend hightailed it to Dublin airport.

The double moves Townend to the 94 winner mark for the season, ten clear of nearest pursuer Rachael Balckmore at the head of this season's Jockeys' Championship.

Quotes from Gary Carson