Bambino Fever delivers dominant Fairyhouse win

Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever got off the mark over obstacles with a comprehensive success as part of a Willie Mullins five-timer at Fairyhouse.

The mare won the Grade One National Hunt Flat contests at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last term, capping a flawless campaign that yielded four wins from four starts.

She started out over hurdles at Naas last month and was beaten into second place as the 1-4 favourite, and was the 1-10 market leader in the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Hurdle under Paul Townend.

Bambino Fever justified those odds this time and after making all the running, she posted an comfortable 12-length victory to shorten from 5-2 to 13-8 with Paddy Power in her position as the favourite for the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

“That was grand. I would have liked a lead as she wasn’t doing a lot in front but she was jumping clean,” said the winning rider.

“She had to get down and race over the last two. I didn’t get anywhere near the bottom of her but she learned how to jump fast and she did it well.

“We would have been disappointed if she didn’t do what she has done. I can’t tell you from that the ability she has but I liked what she did.

“She jumped clean early but got the experience of being in front as well, if she has to do that in future.

“When I woke her up she was good.”

Brian Hayes then guided Western Diego to victory in the Grade Three Bet With Tote Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.

One of four runners in the race for Mullins, the nine-year-old was a 9-2 chance to reverse the form with Drumgill and Touch Me Not, the two horses ahead of him when third over course and distance last time out.

In a field of 12 he duly delivered, securing a three-and-three-quarter-length triumph from stablemate More Coko with Touch Me Not, the 7-2 favourite, back in third.

“It was a fantastic ride by Brian. He’s a very tricky horse to ride but Brian knows him well,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father Willie.

“He had good class bumper form and hurdle form, he’s just a decent horse.

“I’d imagine his route probably maps itself, all those good handicap chases. Now that he’s settling he could probably go up in trip.

“We could look at the Grand Annual with him. I’m not sure at this stage.”

With Proactif having struck for Mullins in the opening contest, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase then went to Port Joulain to make it four.

The seven-year-old was well beaten on his chasing debut over two miles and seven furlongs, but a drop back to two miles and a furlong seemed to do the trick as he prevailed by a length and a quarter under Paul Townend at 15-8.

“He jumped brilliant. Obviously it was a big drop back in trip but he can go back out in trip again, it was just the race presented itself,” said Townend.

“His jumping allowed him to dictate in front. Two good jumps down the straight probably won it for him. He was on top at the line and will go further in future.

“It’s a cliche but he’s a chaser. To be honest he didn’t jump hurdles brilliantly but he does jump a fence really well. I think he can make into a nice horse.”

The concluding Watch Danny’s Diary @ToteRacing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race then went the way of 11-10 favourite The Wager, ridden by Patrick Mullins to give his father a fifth winner across the afternoon.