William Munny 'put himself right in the picture' for Supreme

Strong-travelling William Munny was different class to his four rivals in the Listed novice hurdle on Punchestown's card.

He had two bumpers in his locker in addition to a third place in a Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival, before finishing runner-up in his first two cracks at hurdling at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse. That form saw him got off 4/6 favourite for this race over the minimum trip.

Sean Flanagan was content to let The Great Nudie lead as he kept his mount close up. The Great Nudie looked a sitting duck to the 'jolly' who eased past him after two out.

The margin was narrow approaching the last, but Flanagan hadn't asked his mount a question at all. They popped the last and scooted right away to strike by an easy 15 lengths from the 12/1 runner-up.

An emotional owner/trainer Barry Connell said: “The first thing I want to say is that we’re all thinking about Michael (O'Sullivan) and his family today. This is the first winner in those colours since.

“This horse has been doing everything wrong in his hurdle races. He’s been way too keen, making mistakes and he’s still running to figures to suggest that he’s there or thereabouts winning a Supreme Novices.

“Today he settled away better and jumped better. He was on and off it. He got a run on him going down the hill.

“He has so much natural ability this horse that he can’t understand why the riders want to take him back.

“He’s hardly having a blow there today, that was his last piece of work before the Supreme.

“I know nothing about time but I’ve had two of the top fellas tell me the race in Fairyhouse, the time he was beaten and they were 24 lengths clear of the rest, that the first and second’s sectional splits were good enough to win nine out of the last ten Supremes.

“He’s put himself right in the picture there.

“He was a very good bumper horse and in his two runs over hurdles he was way too keen and made too many mistakes.

“He put it all together there today and we’ll be on the boat and I wouldn’t be swapping him for anything in it.

“In a fast run race over there you’d be hoping he’d settle away a bit better. He has the lot.”

Paddy Power made William Munny 20/1 from 25/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - no runner no bet.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson