Prince is too good for Venture

A request for Patrick Mullins to replace Emmet Mullins aboard the winner Prince De Beauchene was turned down by the stewards before the Woodlands House Hotel Hurdle and so Patrick will have to wait a bit longer in his attempt to break the amateur riders record tally in a calendar year.

Trained by Willie Mullins the 9yo son of French Glory opened the 2/1 favourite with Paddy Powers this morning but he drifted on track out to 3/1 at the off.

Prominent throughout under a keen hold, he was in front after the third last and he was going best as they entered the straight.

He kicked on in the straight and he asserted on the run-in to score by three and a quarter lengths at the line from the 9/4 joint favourite Venture Capital in second under Brian O’Connell for Philip Fenton. Clonbanan Lad was the other 9/4 joint favourite but he ran no sort of race and finished a well beaten fourth under Martin Ferris for Henry De Bromhead.

Emmet Mullins said afterwards: “He was very impressive and he was always going very easy. He travelled and jumped great. He got free for the first time turning in.

"I would imagine Aintree is the plan for him now and hopefully he will get there in one piece."

Prince De Beauchene was cut to 16/1 (from 25's) for the Grand National by Stan James.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)