Allaho makes all under Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins' Allaho landed his third Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Steeplechase in Thurles when making most under Paul Townend to justify 8/13 favouritism.
Townend and Allaho dictated but were closed up on by another Mullins inmate in Stattler (ridden by Brian Hayes) three out, however, they soon asserted after the next.
Allaho had Stattler and another stablemate, Appreciate It beaten before the last and, once he negotiated it, he forged on by a more than healthy 13 lengths. Stattler picked up a runner-up prize at 20/1.
Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "Allaho looked back to himself having not quite got home in the King George. He isn't getting any younger, it took him a while to warm up into his jumping (at Kempton) and he is better going left-handed.Â
"Paul was a little worried that he got a hard race in the King George and was coming back quite quickly but the further he went, the better he travelled and jumped.
"He is a big, big horse who likes better ground and going left-handed at Cheltenham suits him down to the ground. I'd imagine it is all roads back to the Ryanair (Chase) now.
"Today's race was a Grade 1 in all but name, with all being Grade 1 winners, so is great for Thurles and it is a brilliant race to target every year."
He added: "It is brilliant out of Stattler, he had just started to sparkle in the last month so it is great he is getting back to form. He had lost his form completely after the Gold Cup, so now we can aim big with him again.
"Danny (Mullins, on Appreciate It) said he had a good position, travelled great but once they quickened he found nothing. It is disappointing as I thought he'd be challenging Allaho. He wears a tongue-strap, so maybe nicer ground will help him." Envoi Allen (coughing) and Capodanno (temperature) were non runners in this extended 2m4f contest.
Paddy Power trimmed Allaho from 3/1f to 5/2f for the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
