Kiss Will holds Cheltenham Festival entry after impressive debut
Kiss Will could be another Cheltenham Festival option for Willie Mullins after an impressive showing at Fairyhouse this week
€280,000 purchase Kiss Will stars for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse and holds Cheltenham Festival entry for master trainer Kiss Will survived a final-flight scare to make an impressive debut for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse on Thursday.
Bought for €280,000 after finishing second in a French bumper in September 2023, the five-year-old was the 4-11 favourite to go one better on his Irish introduction in the Fairyhouse, Racecourse Of The Year 2024 Maiden Hurdle.
Under a positive ride from Paul Townend, Kiss Will scooted clear of Hello Jack from the home turn and while odds-on backers will have had their hearts in their mouths when he fluffed his lines at the last, it did not halt his momentum as he powered on to register 13-length victory.
On the mistake at the last, Townend told Racing TV, who have the very latest Cheltenham free bet offers ahead of the Festival, said “He’ll have to learn how to do that as well if he’s going to be a good horse, he’s going to have to jump at speed. He found a leg, which was good.
"It was a match from the time we jumped off and I had the better of that turning in. He lengthened well up the straight and handled the nicer ground well.”
BoyleSports, who offer the latest Cheltenham odds, have Kiss Will at 16-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and Townend added: “He showed a little bit more of a turn of foot than I thought, but other people have different opinions of him at home.
“He’ll be an exciting horse and have a future.”
Stablemate Salvator Mundi leads the way in the Supreme betting at 10/3, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Romeo Coolio next best at 6/1.
