Willie Mullins has heaped praise on Monkfish after he extended his winning streak in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase on Tuesday.
Monkfish further enhanced his reputation at Leopardstown, holding his nerve to beat rival Latest Exhibition by three-lengths.
Tuesday’s victory takes Monfish’s run of victories to seven and demonstrated further improvement, having only edged out Latest Exhibition by a neck when they clashed in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March.
A return to Prestbury Park is on the cards for the six-year-old in 2021 but, in the meantime, Mullins is considering the Moriarty Novices’ Chase.
Mullins said: “That was a very good performance from a horse having his second run over fences and taking on more experienced rivals at a Grade 1 track. He never seemed to have a problem [jumping] when he was meeting them wrong. He seems like a natural over fences.
“There was a lot of pressure on him going to the last with Latest Exhibition, who has that bit more experience, but he pulled himself together and fought his way over it and had that little bit in reserve.
“I’d imagine we’d look at the [Dr P. J.] Moriarty [Novices’ Chase], that could be the plan.”
