Willie Mullins enjoys Grade 1 double as stable second-strings upset big guns

Willie Mullins completed a quickfire Grade 1 double on Saturday with Franco De Port landing the Racing Post Chase at Leopardstown and Colreevy rallying to win the Matchbook Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

Neither race was won by the champion trainer's first string with Blackbow falling early on at Leopardstown and Asterion Forlonge departing down the back straight at Limerick having jumped well until failing to take off adequately for jockey Paul Townend.

His exit put Colreevy in pole position to score under Danny Mullins but she looked to have blown her chance when making a mess of the penultimate fence, allowing Pencilfulloflead the advantage.

However, the mare battled back on the run from the last and narrowly took victory, adding to the success of her stablemate at Leopardstown 30 minutes before.

Danny Mullins said: “That was a good performance. She was always very good to jump at home from day one. The aim today was a clear round and hopefully we would be in the mix over the last two. I knew she would keep galloping."

The likes of Footpad, Douvan and Min have landed Leopardstown's Racing Post Chase in the past for Mullins and Franco De Port was making it two wins from as many starts over fences.

He joined Darver Star at the last and kicked clear under jockey Bryan Cooper to land an authoritative success and earn quotes of 16-1 for the Sportinglife Arkle with Paddy Power and Betfair.

Cooper said: "Ruby [Walsh] told me this morning I had a squeak if I don't go too soon. It was a nice Christmas present to get."

Zanahiyr 5-2 favourite for Triumph Hurdle after maintaining perfect record

Zanahiyr made it three wins from three over hurdles at Leopardstown on Saturday, cementing his place at the top of the betting for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The three-year-old was cut to 5-2 favourite (from 7-2) with Sky Bet and is 100-30 market leader (from 4) with Betfair, having produced an authoritative performance in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, a race that was run at a steady pace.

1.05 Leopardstown: full result and race replay

Positioned handily by jockey Jack Kennedy, Zanahiyr made his challenge wide in the straight and skipped clear after the final hurdle having jumped smartly throughout the race.

Kennedy said: "It was a great performance from him. It was a completely opposite race to last time at Fairyhouse, we went very steady and he still won so it just shows that he can do it any way. I think Quilixios is very good but this horse might edge it over him."

Zanahiyr and Jack Kennedy on the way to winning the Knight Frank Juvenile HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Busselton, who had made the running, kept on for second from Ha D'Or, who was keen at the back of the field and occasionally less than fluent when jumping. While showing a decent change of pace to come through the field, he was never in a position to challenge.

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