Champion Trainer Willie Mullins completed a double on his first visit to Ballinrobe in some years as his Pleasure Dome landed the Investec Rated Novice Hurdle under jockey Paul Townend.

In common with Mullins' earlier winner Masons Daughter which was ridden by Patrick Mullins, Pleasure Dome made all the running and in the end held off the challenge of runner-up Lord Erskine by two and a quarter lengths.

The yawning gaps to the other beaten horses reflected the strength-in-depth of today's race, as behind Lord Erskine, winner of last year's Irish Cesarewitch, were length intervals of 25, 12, 12, 40 and 55 to the others in the good-ground 2m6f contest.

Afterwards Mullins, who earlier drew a blank when attempting to recall his previous visit to the venue, stated “that was nice - she ran very well in Sligo and that experience, and the extra two furlongs suited her down to the ground. It was Paul that decided to be more positive with her today than he was the last day.

"Galway might come too soon and we'll try and keep to these rated novice hurdles."

Quotes from Eamonn Murphy