Willie Mullins unleashed 'hardy' new jumps horse The Reverend in the Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle.

The smart ex-Flat runner for William Haggas reached a peak rating of 102 on the level and as a result, was sent off a short price to make an instant impact in his new discipline. In the hands of Paul Townend, who was having his first ride since a fall on New Year's Eve, the 4-11 favourite jumped tidily and asserted with a couple of flights to cross.

After he passed the post with four-and-three-quarter lengths in hand, several bookmakers cut The Reverend's odds to 16-1 (from 33-1) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

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"He loves it doesn't he?" said Townend, who suffered from sore ribs after coming off Ballygunner Castle at Punchestown three days ago.

"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. You would have been disappointed if he couldn't account for the rest of them with the form he has."

In September 2024, The Reverend finished ahead of Poniros in an Ascot handicap, a horse who caused a huge shock in the 2025 JCB Triumph Hurdle for the same owners, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy.

Their latest recruit to the National Hunt scene had delivered in Haydock's Old Borough Cup on his final start for Haggas.

Trying obstacles for the first time in public and after some schooling from Townend's colleague Brian Hayes, the four-year-old gelding set off in the lead but then sat in behind before showing his class in the closing stages.

Mullins is the leading handler with eight Supreme titles, courtesy of Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019), Appreciate It (2021) and Kopek Des Bordes (2025).

However he appears to be unusually light on candidates so far this winter. Racing TV pundit Dave Nevison said: "There is a positive reaction to The Reverend's win but he's not challenging for favouritism by any means."