'We think a lot of him' - classy Karafon completes Clonmel double for Patrick Mullins

The double green army of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede just keeps on growing and C'Est Ta Chance and Karafon put their names in the Cheltenham Festival discussions by winning the two divisions of the maiden hurdle under Patrick Mullins, who recorded a double 24 hours after being crowned Racing Writer of the Year at the Derby awards in London on Monday. 

C'Est Ta Chance was made a 40-1 shot for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and 66-1 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle after scoring comfortably enough by five lengths, but Karafon made the bigger impression as he defied a drift of 8-13 in the morning out to 7-4. 

The winning rider was certainly impressed and said: "Karafon jumped brilliantly, settled great and his form entitled him to do it like that.

"I couldn't ride [third-placed] Karamoja for weight reasons and at home she would work as well as the winner, but Karafon has an extra season's training with us under his belt. That is often worth a lot and Karamoja ran keen and will probably improve more from it. We think a lot of both horses and Karafon can step up in grade now."

Rock too tough

Some big-name chasers were in action in the 3m hurdle but Sandor Clegane and Three Card Brag were unable to land a glove on Franciscan Rock when it mattered as Mouse Morris's resurgent season continued. 

The 11-4 shot asserted before the last under Gavin Brouder and had three and a half lengths to spare over Sandor Clegane at the line. 

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