Port completes treble for Mullins and Townend

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend completed a quick hat-trick at Punchestown this afternoon when Port Joulain justified favouritism in the two-mile-three maiden hurdle.

The Cokoriko gelding went to post 11/10 favourite having been third at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He was produced to lead going to the last and stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-quarter length win over Sermandzarak

“At least he’s improving, that fella. He’s probably not the simplest horse to ride, he’s very fussy with his mouth and we might try and sort that out,” said Mullins.

“Paul said when he got down and rode him he went straight for him and he was happy but he has a very tender mouth.

“He’ll possibly be better going left-handed. I don’t know where we’ll go, he might be more Fairyhouse/Punchestown but they are two right-handed tracks.

“I probably see him more as a chaser. He could make the top grade as a chaser, rather than a novice hurdler.

“If we do a bit of work on getting his head carriage right, it could improve him a good bit.”