Blue Lemons bounced back from a disappointing run in the Triumph Hurdle to record a comfortable success in the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle at
.
Trained by Richard Hannon on the level where he reached a fairly high rating, the son of Blue Point looked promising when winning on his hurdling debut at Gowran.
Down to Grade Two company after Cheltenham, he briefly looked in trouble before sweeping to the front under Paul Townend to win by seven lengths from fellow 2-1 joint-favourite Its Bilbo.
Assistant trainer David Casey said: “It was obviously a big step down from the Triumph. Paul said they went quick and it suited the way he rode him.
“He had that bit of Flat pace anyway and Paul said that suited him because they went quick and they got a little bit tired in front. He was able to use his pace at the end, which is good.
“He’s in Punchestown and he’ll probably run, I suppose. He may as well at this stage.
“Not too many Blue Point’s jump hurdles! We’ll see where he can end up and he always has the option of going back on the Flat as well during the summer.”
Mullins had already won the Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle with the Mark Walsh-ridden Last Kingdom (10-1), who looked a long way ahead of his mark.
Casey said: “He might make into a Lartigue horse (Listowel) down the line, he’s only four. There’s no real long-term plan with him.”