Kitzbuhel and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Champion trainer Willie Mullins completed a Punchestown four-timer today, completing the feat with impressive French import Kitzbuhel (3/1) in the Members Club 2025 Hurdle.
Previously successful at Fontainebleau in November 2023, the four-year-old son of Cokoriko today faced race-fit 146-rated Colonel Mustard which had finished third in the 2022 Champion Hurdle.
Ridden by Paul Townend, Kitzbuhel kept Colonel Mustard at bay throughout today’s two-mile race, and found plenty to defeat his chief rival by 3.75 lengths.
Mullins’ earlier winner came with the Danny Mullins-ridden You Oughta Know and following Kitzbuhels success Townend — who was completing a treble, reported “that was very nice. He stays really well, he looked that way in France and he'll handle the depths of winter (ground).
“He has a lovely temperament, he had experience and he's probably jumping since he was a yearling. He jumped brilliantly and he gallops and covers ground. He'll stay a lot further.
“He beat good horses there and listening to the boys coming in, I had them racing plenty early and he found loads. He's a nice staying type.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
