Willie Mullins, the dominant force in National Hunt racing, has unveiled a potentially exciting new talent for the season as The Reverend made a seamless transition from the Flat to win his maiden hurdle at Cork. The victory was so convincing that several major bookmakers immediately halved his odds for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
A Seamless Transition to Jumps
Sent off as the 4-11 favourite in the Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle, the four-year-old gelding did not disappoint. Under a confident ride from Paul Townend, who was returning from a fall at Punchestown three days prior, The Reverend jumped with notable assurance for a debutant. He took up the lead early before settling kindly, and then asserted his class from the final two flights to win by a commanding four and three-quarter lengths.
Trained previously on the Flat by William Haggas, where he reached a peak rating of 102, The Reverend signed off for that yard by winning the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap at Haydock in September 2024 off a mark of 98. His new connections, owners Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, have already enjoyed notable jumps success with another ex-Flat horse, Poniros, who won the 2025 JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Bookmakers React and Festival Prospects
The market reaction to the performance was swift and significant. Multiple firms cut The Reverend's price for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle from 33-1 to 16-1. This race is a speciality for trainer Willie Mullins, who holds the record with eight previous victories, including Kopek Des Bordes in 2025.
Despite the impressive debut, Racing TV pundit Dave Nevison offered a note of caution, stating, "There is a positive reaction to The Reverend's win but he's not challenging for favouritism by any means." This suggests that while the potential is clear, the winter ahead will determine if he can develop into a leading contender for the Festival's opening day feature.
Jockey and Trainer Verdict
Paul Townend, nursing sore ribs from his recent fall, was clearly pleased with his new mount. "He loves it doesn't he?" said Townend. "He was looking for the next hurdle and settled really nicely for a horse that did so much racing on the Flat. The settling and the adjusting to jumps racing was the most taking part today."
The gelding had been prepared for his new career with schooling sessions from Townend's colleague, Brian Hayes. His ability to adapt quickly and showcase his superior Flat race form, which included a win ahead of the subsequent Triumph Hurdle hero Poniros at Ascot, marks him as a fascinating project for the all-conquering Mullins yard, which is reportedly lighter than usual on top novice hurdlers this season.
