Mullins pair enhance Cheltenham claims

It has been a quiet few days for the Top 40 Prospects but the French Revolution section has had a productive spell. Blood Destiny and Impaire Et Passe enhanced their Cheltenham Festival claims with impressive victories over the weekend. The first named, who chased home Sandown flop Bo Zenith at Auteuil during the spring, had won emphatically at Cork on his Irish debut last month. The No Risk At All gelding stepped up in class at Fairyhouse on Saturday and produced an even better display. Paul Townend's mount made all the running and having allowed his opponents to close up at the second last, he pulled away to register an eighteen lengths success from Common Practice who wasn't disgraced behind Lossiemouth last time. Willie Mullins has a formidable hand for the Triumph Hurdle in March.

Stable companion Impaire Et Passe won by 18 lengths on his Irish bow at Naas (2m 3f) before Christmas and was all the rage for the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer NH at Punchestown on Sunday. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede owned gelding jumped slickly and readily saw off the challenge of the decent mare The Model Kingdom to win by six and a half lengths. Ireland's champion trainer has an equally strong hand for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle and one would envisage that will be this unbeaten five year old's target in the spring. He possesses loads of speed and is a superb jumper. They are two more exciting prospects for OJA.

At a lesser level, the same section had another winner at Kelso on Sunday with Traprain Law making all in the two miles novice hurdle. Owned by Ray Green, the grey is a fine jumper and he was pushed clear after the last to win by four and a half lengths. Rated 114, the Martaline gelding ought to be competitive in handicap hurdles during the second half of the season.