Tinsoldierthurles

G3 win for Soldier Of Fortune

Red-hot Soldier Of Fortune continued his great recent run on Thursday when Willie Mullins saddled Tin Soldier (6g Soldier Of Fortune-Everlast, by Anabaa) to continue his unbeaten record in Ireland. The  six-year-old, who won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January on his first start for Mullins, captured the G3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles in good style. "He is making good progress,” said Mullins. ”We'll stick in the staying division. He's a horse who never shows me much at home but obviously has a lot more in the locker than he lets on. But I like horses who improve unexpectedly and he's one of those. "He wants a trip and 2m4f is as short as he wants - he seems to go on that ground but maybe he wants it better. I'll probably keep him at home and look for a staying novice.”

Tin Soldier win came a day after Soldier Of Fortune had a double courtesy of of Triumph Hurdle hope Soldier In Action (4g Soldier Of Fortune-Ripley, by Platini), trained by Nicky Henderson, and Early Doors (4g Soldier Of Fortune-Ymlaen, by Desert Prince), saddled to win at Punchestown by Joseph O’Brien.