Bishopsfurze survived a serious mistake at the second last to take the 2m6f Listed Novices Hurdle at Clonmel. Continuing the red hot form of Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, Bishopfurze flattened the last hurdle en route to his 7 length victory over stable mate Skorcher, but had travelled extremely well throughout the race.
Willie Mullins reported post race; that the winner had idled in front which had possibly caused the mistakes but the horse had been going so well that the jockey had no choice but to go on. Bishopsfurze holds multiple entries for the Festival in the Supreme, the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett. He is generally available at 25/1 for the trio. Plans are unclear as to which race he will go for at this stage. At the 2010 Festival Bishopsfurze was seventh to Cue Card in the Champion Bumper.
Cathryn Fry
