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A HUGELY exciting Willie Mullins novice hurdler has been obliterated in the betting for Cheltenham after smashing his sorry rivals on debut.

Bookies slashed Kiss Will's odds from 40-1 to just 16-1 for the wide-open Supreme Novices' Hurdle on the back of this showing.

Trainer Willie Mullins at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
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Stop us if you've heard this before... but Willie Mullins has another massively promising novice hurdler on his handsCredit: Sportsfile

Owned by connections of last year's County Hurdle winner and Melbourne Cup seventh Absurde, Kiss Will had raced just once before.

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After finishing third in a bumper in France in September 2023, he moved from trainer Francois Nicolle to Mullins for a staggering £235,000 later month.

Mullins has been patient with the son of Tunis until now - where he unleashed him in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle over two miles.

Sent off 4-11 fav, Kiss Will got in a match with Gordon Elliott's Hello Jack before he waved the white flag approaching two out.

Jockey Paul Townend barely moved as Kiss Will showed a rapid turn of foot to power home by 13 lengths from runner-up Costacurta.

The rider, who yesterday steered the exciting Funiculi Funicula to an eye-catching win for Mullins, was full of praise for the new Closutton recruit.

He said: "It was a match (with chasing Hello Jack finished third) from the time we jumped off and I had the better of that turning in.

"He lengthened well up the straight, handled the nicer ground well and showed a little bit more of a turn of foot than I thought.

"Although other people at home had different opinions of him.

"I liked what he did: it was 'out and get experience’'as much as anything today, and he’ll be an exciting horse with a future."

'She looks top drawer' purrs Willie Mullins after Rich Ricci's 'special' new horse bolts up on debut

David Casey, Mullins right-hand man, put forward Kiss Will as one to watch at the start of the season.

The tight-lipped lieutenant said: "We have a few more young French horses coming through.

"I like the look of Kiss Will, he looks a nice horse."

Punters were a bit stronger in their praise, though, with one commenting on the performance: "Now that is a rocket."

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