Carefully Selected dominates Killiney field

Mullins novice remains unbeaten over fences.

Carefully Selected maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a dominant front-running display in the Killiney Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old won twice in the bumper sphere and was only narrowly denied by then stablemate Relegate in the Champion Bumper at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

He raced just twice over hurdles last season – winning at Limerick before finishing third behind Minella Indo in a Grade One at Punchestown – and it was no surprise to see him make a successful transition to fences at Fairyhouse in late November.

Stepping up in class for this Grade Three assignment, Carefully Selected was sent straight to the lead by Paul Townend – and was still in command rounding the home turn.

The final-fence fall of Speak Easy extended the winning margin to 24 lengths, but it was an impressive display by the winner.

Last season’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner City Island jumped better than on his chasing debut at Leopardstown last month, but was still a little disappointing – profiting from Speak Easy’s exit to finish a distant second.

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Willie Mullins Paul Townend

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