Willie Mullins’ Next Destination continues his rise over hurdles with Grade 1 win at Naas on Sunday
NEXT DESTINATION kept his unbeaten record over hurdles intact with a workmanlike win in the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle.
Willie Mullins' six-year-old made a sparkling debut over hurdles in November and followed up in similarly impressive style in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle last month.
He was the 8-15 favourite to complete his hat-trick in a Grade 1 contest and while it was not as easy as many were expecting, he got the job done in the hands of Paul Townend.
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Townend said: "From the day he won his maiden here he was exciting and thankfully he's gone and done it again.
"It's tough work out there and it was a messy enough race. I'd say his ability got him home.
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"I thought we'd go a bit quicker, to be honest, and I just wanted to keep it as simple as I could.
"He jumped electric and was tough when I needed him.
"He seems to be improving and growing up. Hopefully it's onward and upwards."
Mullins said: "He's improving all the time. It was a very slow-run race and, tactically, it was a lot different than we thought it would be.
"His jumping held up under pressure over the last two and he was in front far enough to withstand the late challenge of the second horse.
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"I'd imagine we'll find a race at the Dublin Festival at Leopardstown (February 3-4) if it's not too soon.
"He looks like a Ballymore or an Albert Bartlett horse (at the Cheltenham Festival).
"I think he can settle well enough. Today he didn't because it was such a slow pace but I think in a Cheltenham-style race he'll settle and he could run in either of those two races.
"The Ballymore would be the one you would think of immediately. He looks a real chaser but he's well able to hurdle this year anyway."
Of Duc Des Genievres, Mullins said: "He ran a cracker for only his second run of his life.
"He looks a real nice type. He'll certainly get a Cheltenham entry."