Mark Walsh and Saint Roi enjoy themselves in Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Saint Roi made a stylish reappearance in the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary.
The five-year-old gelding was last seen winning the Grade 3 County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
He went off 4/7 favourite for this two-mile assignment as Beacon Edge, who was well supported in the morning, was ruled out due to the prevailing good ground.
Saint Roi arrived on the scene, swinging away, two out and soon asserted. He strode in by a more than comfortable five and a half lengths to see his odds contract for the Champion Hurdle. Tigris River took the runner-up berth at 50/1 to give owner JP McManus a one-two.
Willie Mullins, who was saddling a Grade 3 double on the card, said: “I'm very happy with that. The race conditions suited him very well and it was a big advantage.
“Noel's horse (Beacon Edge) coming out was a help as well and we'll take all the help we can take at this stage of the season!
“He did it nicely but he had a big advantage with the conditions of the race.
“Mark (Walsh) said he was meeting the last wrong and fiddled it. I think he got a bit tight for room over the third last. I was worried that he was coming off the bridle but Mark said he was just tight for room.
“Otherwise he was very slick with his jumping and I'm not worried on that front.
“That's the type of speed he shows all the time at home and his last piece of work before Cheltenham was electric. I thought going there he'd take a lot of beating.
“The likes of the County Hurdle are hard races to fancy horses in though.
“He did very well during the summer and is out early purely because this race suited conditions wise.
“The Morgiana would be on the agenda but that might be throwing him in at the deep end.
“He's a second season novice and there might be easier options. I think there is a race at Down Royal for second season novices (Grade 2 WKD Hurdle).”
Mullins' last six runners have all won.
Paddy Power make Saint Roi 10/1 from 14s for the Champion Hurdle.
The Stewards enquired into possible interference after the last hurdle involving Chosen Mate ridden by D.N. Russell, placed fourth and Djingle (FR), ridden by D.J. O'Keeffe, placed fifth, where it appeared Djingle (FR) ran short of room on the rail. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings but found D.N. Russell in breach of Rule 214 (Careless Riding) and having taken his record into account suspended him for two race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
