Future looks bright for Kitzbuhel after Gowran Park strike

Kitzbuhel made it two wins from as many starts for Willie Mullins with a determined victory in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park.

A comfortable winner from the decidedly useful Colonel Mustard on his Irish bow at Punchestown in December, the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned five-year-old was the 2-7 market leader for Grade Three honours against five rivals.

Sitting in third through the early stages, Paul Townend’s mount moved sweetly and took over heading to two from home, only for stablemate Sir Gerhard and then Break My Soul to swiftly emerge as dangers.

It was the latter who made the favourite work the hardest, but he pinged the last and was always staying on strongly in scoring by two and three-quarter lengths.

“It was a nice performance. I loved the way he jumped, he’ll have no trouble going over fences,” said Mullins.

“I love the way he stayed on. It looked like the race was over after he had taken on Sir Gerhard and then he had to find again to take on Break My Soul.

“It’s the sign of a real good horse that he’s able to pick up a second time, which he did.

“I’m probably looking at Liverpool, more so than Cheltenham with him, with the timing of the race.

“The two and a half miles at Liverpool in the Aintree Hurdle would be a big possibility. That’s what I’m looking at at the moment.

“I think he’d love to step up in trip. I’d have no problem going three miles, but two and a half miles in Aintree might be more his thing at this point in his career.

“We’ll see what he does in his next two runs, but the way he jumped there, he looks like he has real potential as a novice chaser.”