Willie Mullins-trained horse Gust of Wind suffers fatal injury during Fairyhouse race

The Willie Mullins-trained Gust of Wind lost his life in a tragic post-race story to the WillowWarm Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

The four-year-old gelding was sent off the 11/10 favourite for the race but fell at the third last hurdle when travelling well in the hands of Paul Townend.

Gust of Wind had to put down from his injuries suffered in the race that was won by the JP McManus-owned Risk Belle, also trained by Mullins.

The horse was owned by Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud, having been bought after making a debut at Auteuil in France.

He ran in last season's Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when he finished a gallant fourth of the fifteen runners.

Perhaps the most impressive performance on the day came from Firefox who came out on top in a thrilling duel with Ballyburn in the Kettles Country House Hotel Supporting Fingal Ravens GFC Raceday Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Both arrived with reputations as being among the smartest novices at their respective powerhouse yards.

Gordon Elliott trains Firefox for Noel and Valarie Moran’s Bective Stud and he had already had a run over timber before running in four bumpers, of which he won three.

Ballyburn, some felt, was the best bumper horse in the powerhouse Willie Mullins yard last season despite only having two outings.

The two dominated from the outset and there was little between them approaching the second-last until Firefox (evens) jumped it much quicker and suddenly opened up a three-length gap under Jack Kennedy.

Ballyburn jumped the last better but the damage had been done and while he closed up a little, there was still two and a half lengths between them at the line.

“He’s a good horse and Jack said he’s so straightforward,” said Elliott. “We thought he needed two and a half miles and that’s why we were making every post a winning post.

“Jack said he could go two and a half but he’s got so much boot and is so relaxed that everything is very easy to him. He looks exciting and you’d like his attitude.

“We wanted to get today out of the way first and I just loved the way he jumped. Jack said he was so professional over the last two.”

Paddy Power and Betfair cut the winner to 10-1 from 20s for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Elliott later went on to win the Willie Elliott & Summerhill Meath SFC Champions (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, run in memory of his uncle, with the expensive purchase Jalon D’oudairies.

Despite drifting in the betting out to 11-8 favouritism, Harry Swan never looked in danger and the £420,000 buy sprinted five lengths clear.

“We were keen to try to win it and he’s a nice horse,” said Elliott.“We were worried there would be no gallop so we let him roll on. He’s only four and will stay in bumpers this season.

“It’s great to win it. All my aunties and cousins are here and Peter (Roe, racecourse manager) was very good and gave us a box up in the stand. There is about 50 of us all together.”

Paul Nolan might have a decent performer on his hands in Feet Of A Dancer (18-1) who impressed in the Redweld Stables Handicap Hurdle.

She had been on an upward curve until disappointing at the Galway Festival but was back on good terms under Sean O’Keeffe.

“She got no real run in Galway at all, she was hampered everywhere she went and I said to Sean to give her a bit of light today,” said Nolan.

“We’ll see how she comes out of this. We might give her time between her races and maybe come back for the mares’ handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival.

“I liked the way she did that and Sean said she was taking him everywhere, she jumped brilliant and he gave her plenty of light. He said nothing had went as well for him in a handicap before.”