Classic Getaway surprised stablemate Minella Cocooner as he led home a one-two-three for Willie Mullins in the Noreside Catering Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Gowran.
All eyes were on Minella Cocooner, winner of a Grade One novice hurdle at Leopardstown last term before going on to chase home another Mullins' runnner, The Nice Guy, at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.
Paul Townend unsurprisingly opted to ride evens favourite Minella Cocooner, with Danny Mullins taking the mount on 8-1 shot Classic Getaway, who was a £570,000 purchase for owners Cheveley Park Stud after winning on his point to point debut back in 2020 but failed to sparkle over hurdles last season.
Minella Cocooner set out to make all in the two-and-a-half-mile heat and all appeared to be going to plan as he built up a healthy lead over Journey With Me, with Classic Getaway settled back in third.
However, Townend was starting to get to work with three to jump and when Journey With Me fell at the second last, it was straight fight between the Mullins runners.
They jumped the last together but Minella Cocooner was awkward on landing, allowing Classic Getaway to seize the advantage and he saw it out well to triumph by two and three-quarter lengths in testing conditions. Whatdeawant was a further 27 lengths back in third to complete the Mullins clean sweep.
Betfair cut Classic Getaway to 12-1 from 50s for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while making him a 10-1 shot for the National Hunt Chase.
Mullins said: "The ground is perfect for us so I wanted to get the three of them out. It's not ideal but we let them take each other on and have them ready for Christmas so we know where we are going now.
"Paul was a shade unlucky having to make all the running and the horse was a little green in front which cost him as well as the mistake at the last.
"Take nothing from the winner. He travelled the whole way and jumped well. He had the benefit of getting a lead but did come through and jumped well. He did everything right.
"Whatdeawant might need a longer trip but he was a little more novicey than the other two. They are three nice novices to go to war with at Christmas."
Mullins' Pink In The Park was sent off the 5-6 favourite in the Proficient Engineering Ltd Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle but he had no answer to the gallant Kalanisi Star (2-1).
Trained by Oliver McKiernan and ridden by Phillip Enright, Kalanisi Star was to the fore throughout but found plenty in the finish to win by two and a quarter lengths, with the first two coming home 18 lengths clear of the rest.
McKiernan said of his charge, who was a bumper winner last term: "He's a grand horse. He just eats and sleeps, does his work and wastes no energy. He's very relaxed.
"I think he'll come on from that run and will appreciate going further as well. He obviously likes it here as he won his bumper here as well.
"I'm not sure where we'll go after here. If the ground is soft enough in Leopardstown he'll probably go there. He travels through the soft stuff."
Another Mullins' favourite, Spanish Harlem, was turned over in the PRL Group Novice Hurdle as Inothewayurthinkin (2-1) outpointed Imagine by half a length in a tight finish. The 11-8 market leader was three and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Gavin Cromwell said: "He's still a baby and green enough but I'm delighted with that.
"He knew his job a bit better today and looks a nice one going forward. He showed a good attitude from the last and wanted to win.
"He's entered in the Grade One novice at Christmas. He'll probably stick to two miles for the moment but looks like a lad that will stay a bit further."
Richard Deegan secured a double on the card with Yabo (7-2) triumphing in the MW Hire Group Beginners Chase and Marelly (8-1) in the Glanbia Novice Handicap Hurdle.
