Denis O'Regan bridged an 11 year gap between wins for Willie Mullins at Galway today as the jockey won the Annesley Williams Rated Novice Hurdle on the Champion Trainer's Dorrells Pierji

The French bred son of Coastal Path made most of the running to eventually beat Petit Tartare by a length and three parts. Mullins' first-string and even money favourite Karl Der Grosse under Ruby Walsh, lacked fluency over some of his hurdles and filled third place.

Mullins wasn't present and afterwards O'Regan said “I know he was disappointing the last day but he put it right today. He jumped well and is still learning and could be on an upward curve.

“He won nicely on soft ground at Listowel and maybe it was a bit soon for him at Tipperary after Listowel but he has come back here on a nice galloping track and has put it right; winning will bring him on confidence-wise.

“It's good for the owners and good for me to ride a winner for Willie and Ruby (Walsh) and Paul (Townend) were a great help. I rode a winner for Willie but it's been so long now that I can't remember it!“

O'Regan's previous winner for Mullins was on Irish Invader in a novice hurdle at Kilbeggan in June 2007, four months prior to the jockey making a high profile move to ride for Howard Johnson in Britain.