Willie Mullins has used the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown as a stepping stone for some of his best prospects, including Vautour, Douvan and Impaire et Passe who all went on to score at the Cheltenham Festival, and Salvator Mundi provided the trainer with an 11th win in the race.
Salvator Mundi (remains 137p) was already favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and he was trimmed in the betting for the Festival opener following his win at Punchestown, though according to Timeform he didn't need to show improved form to win the Moscow Flyer. The bare form Salvator Mundi showed - credited as a Timeform performance rating of 132 - is the lowest for a winner of the Moscow Flyer since 2008, though it's worth noting he still has the Timeform 'small p' to denote he's likely to show better form.
Salvator Mundi is entitled to be sharper for that first start since May, his jumping may improve for the experience and the way he pulled suggests he'll be suited by a stronger pace, so there are certainly reasons to be positve. However, in Timeform's view the level he ran to at Punchestown didn't justify the shortening of his price for the Supreme, and his status as market leader owes plenty to reputation - partly driven by his runner-up effort to Sir Gino in France - rather than his claims on form.
Salvator Mundi formed part of a treble on the card for Mullins who also struck with Lecky Watson (150p from 145p) in the Sky Bet, For The Fans Grade 3 Novice Chase and with Kappa Jy Pike (127p from 119p) in the maiden hurdle.
The Grade 3 novice chase has a notable roll of honour - it has been won by Envoi Allen, Impervious and Spillane's Tower in recent years - and Lecky Watson also proved himself a smart sort, building on the promise he showed when beating Slade Steel on his chasing debut. An eight-length margin flatters him as the runner-up, Down Memory Lane, made a bad mistake at the final fence when within a couple of lengths, but Lecky Watson looked in control at the time and remains open to further improvement as a chaser.
Sixandahalf shines on hurdling debut
At Fairyhouse the previous afternoon, Sixandahalf (129p) established herself as a Cheltenham Festival contender with an easy 12-length victory on her first start over jumps. Sixandahalf had shown useful form on the Flat since winning a Punchestown bumper in the spring and she made a smooth transition to hurdling, impressing with how strongly she travelled before readily asserting. She's open to improvement and is now behind only Maughreen - who we have yet to see this season - in the betting for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
The beginners' chase on the card looked a good race of its type and Mullins was responsible for the first four home, with chasing debutant Mistergif (146p) getting up late to beat Tullyhill (remains 144p) by a length and three-quarters. Mistergif instantly proved himself a better chaser than hurdler with this display, and his strength at the finish of a strongly-run race suggests that he'll be at least as effective back over two and a half miles.
Freezing temperatures badly affected the programme in Britain and the pick of the action was the rescheduled Towton Novices' Chase which was moved from Wetherby to Ffos Las. Handstands (145+ from 142p) followed up his win at Sandown to bag a second Grade 2 of the campaign, proving his versatility with regards trip, though only one of his rivals in the Towton managed to complete so clearly tougher tasks await. For context, Sir Gino is the highest-rated novice chaser this season with a Timeform rating of 159P and 12 novice chasers have earned a rating of at least 150 this season.