Mystical Power moved to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favouritism with a dominant show within the SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old is impeccably bred as a son of Galileo out of the good Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power and will hardly have made a greater begin to his profession for the powerhouse possession trio of JP McManus, John Magnier and Rich Ricci.
Following a successful debut in a Ballinrobe bumper in May, Mystical Power made a profitable swap to hurdling at Galway two months later – and having sidestepped the rearranged Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Friday, he was despatched off at 5-4 for his comeback in a Grade Two contest his coach has beforehand gained with the likes of Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Min (2015) and Impaire Et Passe (2023).
Mark Walsh – trying to full a big-race double within the McManus colors following Grade Three success aboard Spillane’s Tower within the earlier contest on the cardboard – settled his mount on the rear of the four-runner subject for a lot of the two-mile journey whereas his stablemate Lombron adopted a pacesetting position.
There was the odd second of fear for Mystical Power’s supporters, along with his rider having to get decrease within the saddle on the house flip, however the additional he went the higher he regarded and he pretty rocketed clear within the straight to rating by seven lengths from Jigoro.
Mullins’ assistant David Casey stated: “I used to be very impressed with him, he would not present that at house. He appears to save his greatest for the monitor, which is a good trait to have.
“We have been somewhat bit nervous concerning the floor as we speak as he is coming from a summer time marketing campaign. We have been somewhat nervous if he would deal with that heavy floor, nevertheless it appears like he went via it very properly.
“We gave him a break after he had his couple of runs in the summer and brought him back to see if he would handle a winter campaign.
“Mark rode him a few weeks in the past and thought he had improved massively from when he had rode him earlier within the 12 months. He confirmed that as we speak.”
Sky Bet make the winner their 9-2 favorite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, simply forward of fellow McManus-owned ace Jeriko Du Reponet – skilled by Nicky Henderson – at 5-1.
“At the moment you probably wouldn’t go any further than two miles until you have to. Mark said he rides a lot quicker on the track than he does at home,” Casey added.
“I thought he showed a fair turn of foot there. I know the camp have the second-favourite for the Supreme as well so they might want to split them up, but at the moment until you have to you wouldn’t go further, I think.”
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