Willie Mullins had a setback with Gala Marceau s Punchestown defeat today but nonetheless recorded a double, as Cuta Des As (7/4) scored on seasonal reappearance in the See You At Festival 2024 Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Withdrawn from a Clonmel engagement last Thursday following the passing of the champion trainer's mother Maureen Mullins, Cuta Des As today made her hurdling debut under Paul Townend.

Cuta Des As chased leader Tareze for most of the race and while the winner's jumping was less fluent, quickened to lead landing over the last, beating that rival by four lengths, with 33 lengths to third-placed Lucy Prunella

Mullins said “Cuta Des As obviously likes that ground and jumped well when Paul wanted her over the last. Rachael (Blackmore, on runner-up Tareze) had to do all the donkey work and Paul nabbed her over the last.

“She's just taken a while to come to hand and hopefully now she'll stay going. I know the ground is going to be turning a bit better for her but she's coming right and hopefully she'll win one or two before a summer off and then back over fences. She's a nice big type of mare that will jump fences.”

Regarding Gala Marceau, beaten at 2/7f in the earlier Grade 3 Quevega Hurdle, he said “Paul thought she ran a bit keen and she was very disappointing, especially after her promising run in Doncaster.

“I haven't seen anything wrong with her yet but she was blowing quite hard when she came in. Unfortunately it's one of those things.”

Quotes from Gary Carson