Wicklow Brave and Paul Townend chase down Jan Maat and Rachael Blackmore© Photo Healy Racing
It was going to be either Wicklow Brave or Jan Maat from a long way out in the Cheestrings Novice Chase at Listowel and the former eventually got it done to bring up a double on the programme for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
A slight mistake at the last by Jan Maat tipped the balance in Wicklow Brave’s favour. The 1/2 chance went on to bring up the short priced brace for Closutton, by three parts of a length.
Thirty five minutes earlier Mullins and Townend had been on the mark with even money shot Zola in the three mile maiden hurdle.
The wonderfully talented and versatile Wicklow Brave is now three from three over the larger obstacles. Tougher tasks lie ahead though according to Mullins.
He revealed: "Paul said he landed in the middle of the first fence and it upset him for a circuit. Then he got jumping well again but the same fence on the next circuit next time around he made a mistake at it but his bit of class in the end won it for him.
"That's his last race this side of the Atlantic for a while as we go to Far Hills for the Grand National Hurdle Stakes (a Grade 1 sanctioned steeplechase) in October next. Otherwise I'd have gone to Tipperary on October 4 but it is too close to the American race.
"That's our plan, the race is 2m5f and then he'll come back on home soil for the Drinmore (Chase in November)."
(TW & EM)
