Champ Kiely warms up for Easter with Flyingbolt win Former Grade 1 winning hurdler Champ Kiely (30/100f) landed Navan’s Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase today, making all to win under Paul Townend for champion trainer Willie Mullins. Successful in a Naas Grade 1 in 2023, Champ Kiely returned following a 614-day layoff to win on chase debut at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day, before filling fourth place at the recent Dublin Racign Festival. Today the nine-year-old faced just one meaningful rival, giant Jeannot Lapin, in the four-runner race and shook him off from the second-last fence to score by eight lengths. Trainer Mullins reported “he put in a good round of jumping and galloped to the line. Coming back to two miles wasn't any harm to him, so I'm very pleased with him. "He could go to the WillowWarm Gold Cup (Grade 1) at Fairyhouse during Easter over 2m4f: that might be a better option for him (than Cheltenham)." Quotes from Michael Graham
