WILLIE MULLINS was blown away by his ‘exciting’ new Cheltenham Festival favourite – who he said ‘jumps like a champion hurdler’.
Davy Crockett made it three from three when winning a 2m novice hurdle at Listowel on Wednesday.
Some bookies reacted by cutting the JP McManus and John Magnier owned four-year-old into 10-1 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Davy Crockett, a son of Mullins’ former Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power, has been sent off 1-2 for all of his victories.
But this latest win looked his toughest assignment to date, going up against the likes of former Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston.
Listowel favours speed and front-running, two qualities Davy Crockett appeared to have in spades as he won by four lengths from Gordon Elliott’s 16-1 Arch Empire.
Mullins – who was recently confirmed as the new trainer of who punters believe to be the next Triumph Hurdle winner – knows exactly what it takes to win at Cheltenham Festival.
And he loved what he saw from Davy Crockett, who is 12-1 joint-fav with some bookies for the big Grade 1 hurdle race next March alongside Mullins’ Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever.
The Closutton boss said: “I’m delighted he did that.
“For a horse on his second run over hurdles, he jumped so slick.
“He missed the last but he was so slick at the others and obviously takes after his mother.
“What I loved is how he was able to come through on the inside.
“He has such speed and I could see him improving for the rest of the season when going up in grade.
“He could be a Royal Bond horse. He looks very sharp and could go for those big prizes.
“He jumps like a champion hurdler.”
Some punters weren’t entirely sold, however.
They pointed to that sloppy leap at the last – and the idea it was unusual to see one of Mullins’ first-string run through the summer – as evidence.
One said: “If you backed him for the Supreme you need your head checked.”
While another commented: “He looks talented and could go onto big things, but 12s for the Supreme at this stage is a little silly.”
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