Kaid d’Authie puts Mullins back on the winning path

Willie Mullins’ Christmas fortunes took a turn for the better as Kaid d’Authie impressed to win the Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The four-year-old had made only one prior start for his powerhouse stable, having been fifth behind now-stablemate Majborough at Auteuil in April last year for previous connections.

His first run for Mullins and new owner JP McManus was luckless as he fell at Navan in early December, but still he was a 7-2 chance on his third attempt over hurdles.

Under Paul Townend he looked comfortable throughout the two-mile-four-furlong affair, happily staying on to a straightforward half-length victory from Henry de Bromhead’s Koktail Divin.

“He’s a lovely big, long-striding horse who has very little respect for his hurdles and looks like he could be more of a chaser,” said Mullins, who had endured a thin spell by his standards over the first two days of the festive racing period.

“He’s a big chasing type and is similar to Majborough. They both cover a huge amount of ground when they gallop.

“I’d say he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival and take on the top two-milers and we’ll see where he is then.”

The Mercedes Benz South Dublin Handicap Hurdle went the way of Ross O’Sullivan’s Giant Haystacks (15-2), who prevailed by a length and a half under Tom Harney.

The trainer said: “We all had gloomy faces after being beaten in Clonmel the last day, but it’s all worked out for the best.

“All the lads (Keep It Simple Syndicate) are from Clane and are a great bunch of lads and they will have great craic in Clane tonight!”

The Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase was won by Gordon Elliott’s Dee Capo, who was steered by Danny Gilligan to victory by a neck at a price of 15-2.

“He’s a nice horse and was running a good race the last day in Navan when he made the mistake and fell two out,” said Elliott.

“He can go out in trip and he showed a good attitude galloping out to the line.”