Willie Mullins believes Sir Des Champs will improve for his run in the John Durkan Memorial Chase
Willie Mullins was far from despondent despite Sir Des Champs' five length defeat at the hands of Flemenstar.
Last Updated: 10/12/12 2:16pm
Willie Mullins was far from despondent despite Sir Des Champs' five length defeat at the hands of Flemenstar in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.
Sir Des Champs, unbeaten since joining Mullins, including two wins at the Cheltenham Festival, was ridden from some way out by Davy Russell but had no answer to Flemenstar's pace rounding the turn for home.
Mullins said: "I'd rather have won but Flemenstar took the race by the scruff of the neck. It was a good performance and he deserved it.
"My fellow ran a good solid race, and there is a lot to look forward to. He will probably run at Christmas and I will have to chat to the owners.
"We don't have anything to complain about, I don't think, we were staying on well at the finish, he jumped well enough and it was his first run of the season.
"It's harder when you are going around the outside and there's nothing to keep you racing.
"Sir Des Champs' natural way of running is very quiet so I think we'll take a fair bit out of it, there's lots of big races to be aimed at between now and the end of the season.
"I don't think three miles will be a problem, he galloped all the way to the line.
"He's entered in the Lexus, King George and the Dial-A-Bet. He could run in the two-mile race to get further experience, but we will have to see how he comes out of this and discuss it."
