Third Grade 1 Win For Unbeaten Son Of Walk In The Park

Facile Vega (5g Walk In The Park - Quevega, by Robin Des Champs) once again proved a class above the opposition when extending his unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

The well-bred son of Walk In The Park ended last season with back-to-back Grade 1 wins and made an impressive start over hurdles on his seasonal return earlier this month. Paul Townend took the ride again on Tuesday, but was forced to change tactics when the expected frontrunner blundered at the first, from which Facile Vega made the running. The bay was never headed and ran on well on the run-in to score by four lengths.

“I think he'll learn an awful lot today,” winning trainer Willie Mullins said after the race. “The big crowd and all the buzz before the race itself, all that will be a help for him in the future. It doesn't really matter to him where he is in a race. He can lead now and we're not too worried.”

Facile Vega is owned by breeders the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, for whom he has won all six of his starts.