Abbyssial clears the last for Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Abbyssial got the afternoon off to a good start for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh when justifying prohibitive odds in the Nugent Spirit 25 Horsebox Hurdle.
The 2/9 favourite made all for an easy win on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse last month, and again adopted front-running tactics here.
However Walsh needed to shake him up to maintain his advantage here and the son of Beneficial kept on well on the run-in, despite flashing his tail a few times, to beat stablemate Noble Inn by a length and a half. Arzembouy Premier was a further three and a half lengths away in third.
Mullins said, “He jumped well and maybe more like a chaser. He was bought as a chaser and is a typical Beneficial. He came from France, and if he was raised in Ireland he would probably be running in a four-year-old point-to-point now.
“He’s precocious enough and has a good standard of ability. I see him as a chaser long-term and Cheltenham isn’t my first thought for him. If the ground is dry we’ll probably skip it and he might go back to France.”
The champion trainer was also happy with the runner-up adding, “Noble Inn is improving all the time and will be better on better ground in the spring.”
Walsh said of the winner, “He’s a fine big horse, loves soft ground, is a great jumper and will make a gorgeous chaser. He’s a bit green and coming down the straight the first time he was having a good look at the crowd but there is a lot to like about him.
“The ground is soft but it’s in good nick. I’d imagine as the day goes on it will get more testing.”
Abbyssial was left unchanged at 20/1 for the Triumph Hurdle with Paddy Power.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
