Bosman Rule has been let down by some sloppy jumping in the past but he put that right in no uncertain manner when recording something of a shock win in the opening McCarthy Insurance Group Rated Novice Hurdle at Cork.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was sent off the outsider of the six runners at 10/1 (from 12's) but recorded an impressive victory stepping back down in trip to two miles.

Barry Cash again adopted the front-running tactics on Velocity Boy that proved so successful at Limerick last weekend but he was a spent force turning in as Bosman Rule took over.

Paul Townend 's mount was in control well before the final flight, and kept on strongly to beat The Herds Garden by 11 lengths.

The 13/8 favourite Pulled Mussel was a further 17 lengths adrift in third, while the winner's stablemate Valyssa Monterg dropped out tamely and was pulled up before three out.

Mullins said, "I just said to Paul to get him jumping. He wears cheek-pieces because he's looking all around him. I'd say he's only starting to realise that he's a racehorse now.

"It's probably too late to go novice chasing with him now so we'll probably go over fences with him next season. He probably needs more than two miles but the conditions today made it feel like a two and a half miles race.

"The other horse (Valyssa Monterg) appeared lame after in the parade ring, so she might have pulled a muscle. I think she's a lot better than that but maybe she's just a summer mare."

Townend said "It was a nice surprise, and he stuck at it well. It's really testing ground and he jumped better over two miles where he was able to attack his hurdles. He jumped and galloped right to the line. Maybe the penny is just dropping with him."

(TW & AM)