Mullins eyes Brown Advisory for High Class Hero

Loughglynn kept his stablemate High Class Hero honest in the beginners' chase at Punchestown, but the latter proved too strong at the business end.

This extended two-miles-six-furlongs became less of a jumping test with all the fences in the back straight omitted due to low-lying sun.

The field of eight had 10 fences to negotiate and Sean O'Keeffe dictated on Loughglyinn with High Class Hero and Paul Townend tracking in a close second.

Loughglynn came under a squeeze from O'Keeffe with a quarter of a mile to travel and High Class Hero came to claim them racing to the last obstacle.

High Class Hero (8/15f) asserted in the closing stages to beat Loughglynn (3/1) by two and three-quarter lengths to give Willie Mullins a one-two. Mint Boy was a further eight-and-a-half-lengths adrift in third at 9/1.

The winner built upon a runner-up berth on chasing debut over an extended two-miles-seven-furlongs at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. He was also runner-up in a Grade 1 over flights at last season's Punchestown Festival.

Willie Mullins said: “He did it nicely. The ground was quite testing as they had a lot of rain before racing.

“He’s in the Brown Advisory. He would look that type of an animal and we’ll probably head that direction.

“The other fella, Loughglynn, will probably stay at home and we’ll find something for him.”

Paddy Power trimmed High Class Hero from 33/1 to 25/1 for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival - non runner no bet.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson