Mullins learning all the time with Josephina

Strong-travelling Josephina was an authoritative winner of the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle over two miles in Kilbeggan.

The 5/2 favourite made good headway to close after the penultimate flight and led on the bit rounding the home turn.

She popped the last for Sean O'Keefe and stretched away to beat No Way Jack (8/1) by nine and a half lengths. King Christophe (14/1) plugged on for third, a further 11 lengths adrift.

Josephina was following up on a victory in a mares' handicap hurdle in Tramore last week.

Trainer Tony Mullins said: “We're delighted with her. It was nice to see her winning with a good cut in the ground.

“Hopefully she'll win another handicap hurdle now. We were half on the point of retiring her a month ago.

“She eventually came right and she looks like she might win again. She's not a big mare but she'll still jump a fence and go chasing in time.

“We thought over two-and-a-half we were giving her a chance to get into it but two miles seems to be much better for her. You learn as you go along.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson