Paul Townend lands Cork Racecourse opener on classy flat recruit The Reverend

Cork Racecourse in Mallow passed an early Saturday morning inspection - for its opening fixture of 2026. 

As has been the trend all over Christmas, a large attendance was the order of the day for an attractive National Hunt card. 

The surrounding blue skies and winter sunshine were somewhat deceptive on a bitterly cold afternoon in Mallow. 

Cork jockeys enjoyed a productive afternoon with Paul Townend, Michael Kenneally, Darragh O’Keeffe and Daniel King among the winners. 

Rebel Budz trained in Ballyclough by Paul Flynn was the well backed winner of the three-mile maiden hurdle and returned to a huge ovation. There was a spate of non runners through the afternoon due to the ground conditions.

Racing began with the Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle. 

All eyes here were on Willie Mullins hurdling debutant The Reverend, who'd won four times on the flat for William Haggas. 

He'd won off a mark of 98 at Haydock under Tom Marquand in September. 

With Speculateur a significant non runner - The Reverend went off at 4/11 having briefly touched 4/7, before late support saw his odds contract. Paul Townend was content to get a lead and sat in second place throughout.

He asserted on the run to the second last and won easily by 4 ¾ lengths.

His only serious market rival Dawn Coming ran his best race to date on his third start over hurdles. 

The Reverend earned a quote of 25/1 for the Turners Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. 

He sports the silks of Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom. 

Bloom is no stranger to Cheltenham success. 

Last year Bloom landed one of the biggest Cheltenham shocks ever when his 100/1 chance Poniros landed the Triumph Hurdle. 

He also enjoyed Cheltenham glory with Penhill (twice) and Energumeme(twice) Whether The Reverend can replicate that level of success is open to question.

But he started out in the best possible manner today.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend provided the uneasy market leader in the Irish Stallion Trail Maiden Hurdle in the shape of Fillyoureye. 

He had finished runner-up in both his maiden hurdles prior to today.

The Kilbeggan bumper winner stepped up in trip this afternoon and the son of Leading Light was a market drifter from 4/9 to 5/6.

Ultimately, the best backed horse in the race was the winner, the local horse Rebel Budz, who is trained in Ballyclough. 

It turned out to be a family affair as Paul O'Flynn trained the winner for his father Thomas. 

He'd been well fancied when finishing second on his hurdling debut at Thurles in November. 

The winner that day (Found A Diamond) had validated the form in Navan subsequently. 

Frankie's Freebie set the fractions but was headed by the eventual winner at the third last. 

Rebel Budz stretched clear before the final flight to record a facile fourteen length victory over Frankie's Freebie. 

The favourite Fillyoureye was never travelling well and finished a well beaten third twenty five lengths behind the winner. 

He probably wants much better ground but has been disappointing. 

The successful jockey Darragh O’Keeffe felt today's winner was still a shade green.

"I thought he was still a bit green when I let him down.

"We fancied him in Thurles.

"The winner has come on and won since in Navan.” 

Two burgeoning Cork talents enjoying a terrific season are Kilbrin jockey Daniel King and Dungourney jockey Michael Kenneally.

Daniel King partnered Way Down South for Gillian Scott to land the William Hill Challenge Series Beginners Chase at 12/1. 

Earlier Michael Kenneally was seen to great effect aboard Tatateo. 

He reversed Leopardstown form with today's 5/4 market leader Spinola Bay in the Goldcrop Rated Novice Hurdle. 

The winner was well backed from 13/2 in the offices into 11/4. 

Kenneally has enjoyed a particularly productive Christmas period.

Moonverrin who ran with enormous potential on debut at Fairyhouse in November went one better in today's concluding mares bumper to send punters home happy.