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

Willie Mullins unleashed two potentially smart prospects at Tramore as Karniquet followed in the footsteps of Gaelic Warrior by landing the 2m maiden hurdle in impressive style and Sortudo finished off the day in style with a smart performance in the bumper.

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

Paddy Power responded by cutting him to 25-1 (from 40) for the 2m Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, 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 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.

Jockey Paul Townend cut a confident figure throughout the contest, 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.

Townend was suitably impressed 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."

After finishing runner-up in a point at Dromahane in April, Sortudo went off a well-backed 2-5 favourite under Jody Townend in the closing bumper and made light work of his rivals, winning by five and a half lengths from Pounds At The Time.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "Authorized is a brilliant sire and Jody did well to get him settled. I think there should be a lot of improvement in him.

“He’s very exciting and will probably stay in bumpers this year. We’ll look at Leopardstown over Christmas. He could be at the top end of our bumper horses."

The Great Nudie streaks home

Sean Flanagan rattled off a quickfire double kicked off by The Great Nudie, who put in a very useful performance to deny 7-4 favourite Sainte Tartare in the 2m5f mares' maiden hurdle for Colin Bowe.

The 8-1 shot was stepping up markedly in trip from her hurdles debut and reeled in the runaway leader close home to win by three-quarters of a length, with the pair pulling 15 lengths clear of the field.

Flanagan followed up in the handicap over the same distance on the David O'Brien-trained Roxhill Roise, who won for the second time at at the track when resolutely fending off Lilian Bland by half a length to score at 5-1.

Donoghue bros combine

Keith Donoghue also landed consecutive races later on the card, the first of which came in the 2m5½f beginners' chase for Gavin Cromwell when 3-1 shot Jouster got off the mark at the second time of asking over fences, denying 9-4 favourite Pipers Boreen by three-quarters of a length.

Donoghue followed up on Portarlington, trained by his brother Ian. The winner was last seen landing a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago and made a seamless switch to fences, jumping assuredly en route to winning by a cosy three and three-quarter lengths at odds of 12-1.

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (March 11. 2025)
Sky Bet: 7 Salvator Mundi, Romeo Coolio, 14 Redemption Day, Jasmin De Vaux 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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