In Excess forces his way into Festival frame
Wide-margin Fairyhouse winner headlines Mullins’ treble.
In Excess may have earned himself a place on Willie Mullins’ formidable Cheltenham Festival squad after starring in a treble for the champion trainer at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. The French-bred gelding was the 4-9 favourite for the Easter Festival Early Bird Maiden Hurdle, having previously finished second in a French bumper and on his Irish debut at Limerick last month. Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with In Excess readily pulling 11 lengths clear in the hands of Sean O’Keeffe – deputising for Paul Townend, who sat out the card due to illness. “He was keen enough during the race, but I was very happy with the way he quickened after the second-last as I thought he’d done a lot of work at that stage,” said Mullins.In Excess lands a convincing victory in the Easter Festival Early Bird Maiden Hurdle under Sean O’Keeffe for trainer Willie Mullins@WillieMullinsNH@Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/exkfeeW0kW
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) January 25, 2023
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