'He gave me a lovely feel' - Willie Mullins' exciting French recruit Karniquet dominates on Irish debut and is cut for Supreme

Karniquet swept to an 11-length victory on his Irish debutCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Karniquet followed in the footsteps of Gaelic Warrior by landing the 2m maiden hurdle in impressive style at Tramore for Willie Mullins.

The champion trainer said in his exclusive Racing Post stable tour that Karniquet "could be a name to remember", and the Gigginstown-owned French recruit made the perfect start on his first start in Ireland by powering 11 lengths clear of Downmexicoway at odds of 4-5.

The performance saw him cut to 25-1 (from 40) for the two-mile Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power, while race sponsors Sky Bet introduced him at 16-1. He is a best-priced 25-1 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle over five furlongs further.

Karniquet had last been last seen finishing runner-up in a juvenile hurdle at Auteuil in February before being acquired by his new connections, and he was well backed to make a winning debut in the same race stablemate Gaelic Warrior won by 86 lengths two years ago.

Paul Townend always cut a confident figure in the saddle throughout the journey, in which just four hurdles were jumped, before he asked his mount the question over a furlong out and the pair thundered clear of the Henry de Bromhead-trained Downmexicoway, who backed up his runner-up effort last month at Galway.

Townend was suitably impressed with his mount and said: "I loved the way he went through the race. Obviously he only jumped a couple of hurdles but he has experience in France and he's well able to jump. He's entitled to come on plenty for it and he gave me a lovely feel."

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (March 11. 2025)
Sky Bet: 7 Salvator Mundi, Romeo Coolio, 14 Redemption Day, Jasmin De Vauz 16 Jeroboam Machin, Karniquet, Kopek Des Bordes, 20 bar

Turners Novices' Hurdle (March 12, 2025)
bet365: 8 Jasmin De Vaux, 12 The Yellow Clay, 14 Jalon D'Oudairies, Redemption Day, 16 Kopek Des Bordes, Romeo Coolio, 18 Potters Charm, 20 Karniquet, Jeroboam Machin, Kainsbourg, Mister Meggit, 25 bar

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