Le Divin Enfant looks good on debut for Willie Mullins 👀 | Racing TV
French import Le Divin Enfant made his Irish debut look effortless at Thurles, coasting home as the 1/6 favourite under Paul Townend.
The gelding hadn’t been seen since finishing fourth in a conditions hurdle at Auteuil over a year ago, a race won by future Grade 1 scorer Lulamba.
In this maiden hurdle, he pulled away from his two principal rivals before the second-last flight, with the rest of the field struggling to keep up.
A clean jump at the final hurdle sealed an emphatic victory, as he powered clear to win by 23 lengths over Glenrush Bay (9/1), with Moon Mission (12/1) another 12 lengths back in third.
Townend said: “His French jumping experience showed. It wasn’t the strongest race, but he gained plenty from it and really enjoyed himself out there.
I’d hope he can prove a good yardstick because he gave me the feel of a proper horse. I never had to go for everything, and that’s usually a positive sign.
This extended two-mile trip seems ideal. He was keen today, so that should take the edge off him, though he still came back in full of life.”
The jockey suggested that Le Divin Enfant was "proper Graded class" and a step up in class looks in order next before seeing more fully where this exciting prospect might fit in the Willie Mullins novice pecking order.
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