Found A Fifty dived right at the first in the hands of Jack Kennedy but still landed in front of Facile Vega, who raced a little wider in the early stages under Patrick Mullins and gradually moved closer from halfway. The Willie Mullins-trained favourite had taken over in the lead by the second last, only for a scrappy leap to hand the initiative back to Found A Fifty.
As the taps were turned on between the final two fences it quickly became apparent that Facile Vega was running on empty, a good leap at the last from Found A Fifty sealing matters in his favour. My Mate Mozzie and Sharjah also stayed on past the faltering favourite late on to ensure that the Mullins hotpot finished last of the four runners, in a dismal display reminiscent of his flop in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.
Willie Mullins worked wonders to get Facile Vega back from that disappointment to finish second in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and then to win a Gr.1 at Punchestown, but he has a similar task on his hands this season. Bookmakers reacted by pushing the former Champion Bumper winner out to as big as 8/1 for the Arkle in March.
As for the winner, this was a first success at Grade 1 level over hurdles or fences and continued his pleasing progression. The six-year-old son of Solskjaer won a Boulta point-to-point in November 2021 before joining the Gordon Elliott yard. He went hurdling after finishing second in a Navan bumper last November, winning a Fairyhouse maiden and taking second in the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas, before coming up short at the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals.
He made a winning chasing debut at Down Royal in November, then chased home I am Maximus in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. Dropping back in trip looked key to his success at Leopardstown today, and quotes for the Arkle range from 8/1 to 12/1.
Speaking to RTE, Elliott was quick to pay tribute to winning owners, Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud. He said: "He's very quirky but he's got a massive engine. Jack gave him a wonderful ride, he had to use his head. This is a second Grade-1 winner for Noel and Valerie Moran, they were away on holidays for the first one. They are massive supporters of Cullentra and a big part of my team, they are brilliant."
