Koshari continued Willie Mullins’ amazing run of recent success when taking the featured GAIN Handicap Hurdle at Cork this afternoon.

The champion trainer was sending out his 21st winner since Christmas which included six at Grade 1 level, and this latest success was all the more meritorious as the Walk In The Park gelding was reappearing after an absence of 875 days.

Jockey arrangements suggested he was the stable second-string but a big run was obviously expected as the lightly-raced nine-year-old was backed from 7/1 into 4/1. Fairyhill Run made a bold bid from the front and had most of her rivals in trouble early in the straight.

However, Danny Mullins produced the top-weight to challenge after two out and got on top on the run-in to score by three and a half lengths. Bon Retour a stablemate of the winner and 11/4 favourite, was a further seven lengths back in third.

Danny Mullins said, "It was nice to get it and was a proper training performance from Willie to have him back here in that shape after a long layoff.

"He has done well physically from his break, did it well today and hopefully he can pick up a few more races."

(TW & AM)