The JP McManus-owned Mighty Park landed a major punt in the gree and gold silks with an emphatic victory at Fairyhouse.
Getting into the race as a second reserve, Willie Mullins' charge was available at 5/2 this morning, but was punted off the boards into 8/13 favouritism and won in a hack canter under Mark Walsh.
The €105,000 buy is a three-parts brother to King George VI Chase hero and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite.
Mighty Park leapt to the head of the Willie Mullins pecking order for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins’ inevitably strong squad of contenders for the Cheltenham Festival opener has failed to materialise so far, with Bambino Fever just 24 hours earlier the clubhouse leader.
As she has the option of the mares’ novice hurdle as well, punters have been waiting for something to get behind and in Mighty Park – who is closely related to the mercurial Might Bite – they might just have it.
Mark Walsh bounced the JP McManus purchase out in front and try as Paul Townend did to keep tabs aboard stablemate Roc Dino, he soon gave it up as a lost battle in the straight and was beaten 38 lengths.
Paddy Power cut the winner to 16-1 from 33s for the Supreme or he is 12-1 for the Turners over further.
McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “He couldn’t have done it any better. He made his own running and jumped great, we were very happy with him. It might not have been the strongest of races, but he couldn’t have done it any nicer than he did.
“He has all the things you should have, a bit of size and scope. We couldn’t be happier.”
He added: “We’ll see what Willie thinks and see how he comes out of the run, give him three weeks I suppose and then see where he goes from there. He had the run in the point-to-point. We’ll see in a few weeks where Willie wants to go.
“He’s raw enough still, maybe it would be different in company but Mark said he was raw enough there in front.
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