French Revolution winner Kitzbuhel (3/1)

Willie Mullins dominated proceedings at Punchestown on Tuesday with a four timer. Triple Grade 1 winning novice hurdler Dancing City made a successful start to his chasing career with a workmanlike victory in the two miles seven beginners chase. Pushed out after the last to record a length and a half victory, the seven year old jumped well enough but it was a performance which lacked the wow factor. Connections expect the Feel Like Dancing gelding to improve for the outing and he had a couple of useful rivals in behind. His next start should tell us more.

The same owners Kitzbuhel impressed in the conditions hurdle over two miles on his Irish debut later on the card. Featured in the French Revolution section of One Jump Ahead, the four year old is viewed as a stayer in the making but he didn't lack speed here beating the 146 rated Colonel Mustard by three and three quarters of a length with a further eighteen lengths back in third. Making all the running, the grey jumped superbly and found plenty for pressure between the final two flights before pulling away to register a comfortable success. A winner in his native country in November last year, he won't be the easiest to place but he certainly looks Graded material.  However, he is a smashing long-term prospect.

Ironically, I attended the 253rd Gimcrack Dinner at York racecourse on Tuesday evening and, whilst at breakfast on Wednesday morning, I spoke to Colonel Mustard's owner Alex Frost. Having discussed his performance at Punchestown, Alex passed on news that another of his horses, Queens Gamble, who also finished second last time out, namely in the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury last month. Trained by Harry Derham, the mare has been raised five pounds since to a mark of 135 and his connections are eyeing a valuable mares' handicap hurdle at the DRF at Leopardstown in early February.