Stattler heads Fighter Allen at the last © Photo Healy Racing
After Blue Lord in the opener, Paul Townend and Willie Mullins quickly doubled up when 5/4 favourite Stattler made an impressive debut over fences in the Fairyhouse Supporting Irishinjuredjockeys.com Beginners Chase.
Last season’s Albert Bartlett fourth tracked the leaders and travelled well in third on the home turn with two to jump. He headed stablemate Fighter Allen at the last and went away to win readily by six lengths.
Paddy Power cut the winner into 9/2, from 7s, for the National Hunt Chase and to 16/1, from 33s, for the Festival Novices’ Chase.
“He’s similar to the first fella (Blue Lord) in that he loves jumping fences," said the winnig rider.
"He’s matured as well and they have both made the transition really well.
“He showed a turn of foot from the back of the second last up to the line that surprised me a bit. He picked up Fighter Allen nicely.
“It’s a perfect start for him and you would imagine he will make into a staying chaser. It was an ideal trip to start him over.”
Talking about his recovery from a shoulder injury, Townend added: “It’s been a long and painful recovery and I’ve just been taking it day by day and listening to the professionals as to when I could come back riding.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
