Klassical Dream makes winning chase debut at Thurles

Sent off the 1/4 favourite in the Download The BetVictor App Irish EBF Beginners Chase under Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old jumped well out in front and didn't see another rival.

Digby (4/1) put up most resistance but was never on terms and came under pressure as the leader turned for home still hard on the bridle.

There was nine and a half lengths between the pair at the line, with the same distance back to Gold Bullion (100/30) back in third.

Bookmakers cut the winner in their antepost lists for the Cheltenham Festival in March, Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Bet making him a 14/1 (from 20/1) shot for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and the same price for the Turners Novices' Chase over the intermediate two and a half mile trip.

“We’d have been disappointed if we were beaten, but he was foot perfect everywhere. He was quick getting from A to B and behaved himself relatively well as well, so maybe he has grown up,” Townend said.

“I never had to interfere as he was lining up his fences from 10 strides away and I only had to encourage him and not fall off. He was good and clever and was able to sort himself out at fences as well, which was a nice thing to take from it.

“He achieved a lot over hurdles and was a high-class horse to be going chasing. He had done plenty schooling and has taken to it really well.

“He hasn’t a million miles on the clock either and has loads of fire in his belly.”

Mullins was particularly pleased with Klassical Dream’s jumping and added: “It was a very good performance, his jumping was very slick and he jumped like a handicapper. I think he was a lot more settled and is maturing.

“We just have to go up in grade now – he is sharp enough for two miles but I have no problem going further either. We’ll look for something around Christmas maybe.

“You could see Klassical Dream was probably a third or fourth-season novice the way he jumped because he was very efficient. I had been trying to go over fences with him for the past couple of years, but he had little mishaps which would have meant he’d miss half the season. We bided our time and this year he has been 100% and let’s hope he stays that way now.

“He is a Supreme Novice winner and we know he has plenty of stamina, so you could go any trip with him. We’ll look at Christmas for him as it is nice timing-wise.”

Klassical Dream’s ante-post odds for a range of chasing targets have now been trimmed with Betfair, who make him 10-1 from 20s for the National Hunt Chase, 14s from 25-1 for the Turners Novices’ Chase and 14-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

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