Mullins delight as Asterion Forlonge runs riot to boost owner's Supreme hand

The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle picture can't be described as black and white, but it certainly has a yellow and black hue at the top of the market – much to the delight of owner Joe Donnelly, who has found another genuine contender in runaway Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle winner Asterion Forlonge.

The impressive nine-and-a-half-length victory for Willie Mullins' long-striding grey resulted in a shortening to a general 7-1 (from 20) for the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser, with Donnelly's Shishkin heading the ante-post market at 4-1.

Sunday's Grade 1 prize, worth €150,000, continued an excellent season for Danny Mullins and provided the Closutton trainer with a seventh win in the last eight editions of the race – also causing a surprise for the Closutton camp.

"I'm surprised and delighted," said the champion trainer, winning the race for the eighth time. "I had him down as a two-mile-six or three-mile horse. It looks like I'm wrong and he's a two-miler."

Well-backed 5-4 favourite Easywork was always prominent alongside the winner but couldn't live with him once turning in, while third-placed Mt Leinster was slightly let down by his jumping at times.

Mullins said: "He has a huge cruising speed and I said to Danny to make the running for himself.

"He's never fast at home but he obviously covers a huge amount of ground and can keep that gallop up for two miles flat out."

Asterion Forlonge was ridden prominently alongside EasyworkCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The unbeaten six-year-old, now 2-2 over hurdles, is entered in all three top-level novice hurdles at Cheltenham next month, but history suggests the Supreme could prove the relentless galloper's optimum target.

Four of the last five horses to attempt the Chanelle Pharma-Supreme double have been successful, including last year's scorer Klassical Dream, while nine of the last ten winners trying to follow up in the Ballymore have failed.

View the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle

Mullins added: “We'll see what happens. I think this fella can stay, I think he's easy enough to ride. I always had him down as a stayer. If the owner has another candidate for the Supreme we can chat it out.”

The winning rider added: "It was a proper good performance. We went an even gallop and picked up well in the straight.

"In fairness to Diarmuid Keeling, who looks after him, he said he reminded him of Champagne Fever [winner of this race and the Supreme in 2013] having looked after that horse before as well.

“We’ll need to step up to get to that level but this was good and hopefully he’ll keep improving."

The in-form jockey added: "He jumped a little right early on and then later on he went a bit left. I’d say that could be just greenness rather than a kink."

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