Dermot Weld claimed the 120,000 euro feature Colm Quinn BMW Mile for the eighth time with Couer D’Or on Tuesday of the Galway Festival.
Ridden by Chris Hayes, who completed a double on the card, Couer D'Or was settled early and made a late rally to get up in the dying strides, beating No More Porter by a head.
"This was the plan and he delivered," said Weld. "He has been a very consistent horse and is a brave horse. We were just worried about the ground because he is very effective on a slightly quicker surface, so I am delighted."
Multiple Grade 1 winning hurdle Sharjah made an impressive start to his long-awaited chasing career at the age of ten in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding jumped well throughout and was able to take the lead from four out, easily repelling the challenge of the eventual second Mars Harper.
"He jumped like he did at home," said Mullins. "Every time we schooled him, he looked very capable and confident over fences, so I'm very pleased with him. If he wasn't good, we wouldn't have gone chasing but he looked such a natural over them at home.
"He didn't give Paul any worries, he stood back at the second last the first time around and the second time around Paul just let him do what he wanted at it and he just put a quick one in and was very good.
"I think you'd get nice ground for the Drinmore so that could be an option. He enjoyed it today and hopefully he will stay enjoying it."
Mullins plotted a similar campaign with Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen. The then-eleven-year-old made a successful chasing debut in November 2019 before recording two victories in Group 1 company over fences.
Sharjah's victory marked another double on the card for Willie Mullins, with Arctic Fly winning the Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle. The least fancied of Mullins' four runners, Arctic Fly was taken to the lead by jockey Sean O'Keefe and barely saw another rival. He kicked for home on the run-in to beat Sean Flanagan's Sherodan by four-and-a-half lengths.
"Sean was very good on her. You could see him slowing down the whole thing and everyone was just sitting in behind him and he kept enough in reserve to kick," said Mullins.
"She's a Walk In The Park filly, you can't get much better I think. She's going to improve I would say."
