Rathvinden was the seventh winner today for Willie Mullins © Photo Healy Racing
< Hurricane Fly secured a world record-breaking 17th Grade One victory of his career as he opened his season with success in the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.
The dual Champion Hurdle hero moved past the great chaser Kauto Star and legendary US Flat horse John Henry in the record books with his latest triumph, achieved at prohibitive odds of 1-16.
He tracked stable companion Mikael D'Haguenet and led going to the last, where a quick jump settled it before he was kept up to his work to beat another stablemate, Marito by a length and a quarter.
Jockey Ruby Walsh went on to a five-timer on the card, while trainer Willie Mullins won four races to add to three at the afternoon's other meeting, Cork.
They teamed up with Felix Yonger (9-4), who could well be a force to be reckoned with over fences this season judged on his ready success in the Grade Two Madigans Bars Craddockstown Novice Chase.
The odds-on Defy Logic showed the way and the pair pulled clear off the home turn before Felix Yonger put in the better jumps at the last and proved just the stronger, winning by two and a half lengths.
Mullins and Walsh also scored with Faugheen (1-5 favourite), who sauntered to an easy victory in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, leading going to the last and going clear to win by six and a half lengths.
They then teamed up to take the Go Racing In Kildare 2014 Membership Handicap Hurdle with 7-4 favourite City Slicker who dominated the race and had it won at the last before crossing the line four lengths ahead.
Walsh also won on the Pat Fahy-trained Morning Assembly (6-4) in a thrilling finish to the Grade Two Dobbins Outdoor Catering Florida Pearl Novice Chase, getting the better of a duel with Don Cossack over the last two fences to edge home by half a length.
