What a difference a year makes! Aitmatov took advantage of the penultimate flight fall of Oscar Dan Dan to land the Lismullen Hurdle 12 months ago but this time the roles were reversed in the Grade 2 event as 7/4 favourite Aitmatov crashed out while leading at the last.
Oscar Dan Dan (11/4) was about a length down at the time with all to play for when Aitmatov just failed to rise high enough.
Paul Townend 's mount took full advantage of his good fortune, keeping on well on the run-in to beat Jumbo Rio by four lengths with Moskova two and a half lengths further back in third.
Just five went to post with Mourad taken out due to a temperature.
“Its funny how things turn around as he fell in this race last year when it looked like he'd win. I hope the soft ground will not have taken too much out of him as he'll line up for the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse in three weeks. I'm surprised he ran as well as he did coming off a break. The favourite falling obviously made it easier but Paul felt he had the winning of the race anyway,” said trainer Tom Mullins.
Sean Graham quote the winner at 33/1 for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham next March, while he is 50/1 with Stan James.
