Blizzard Of Oz delivered a commanding performance to triumph in the opening two-mile auction novice hurdle at Leopardstown, leaving behind the Naas form.
The clash saw familiar contenders like Captain Cody (second), Backtonormal (third), and Blizzard Of Oz (fifth), who had previously tackled an extended 2m3f race at Naas in February.
Backtonormal led from the front, closely followed by Purse Price and Blizzard Of Oz as they approached the penultimate hurdle. It was Blizzard Of Oz who made a decisive move, under jockey Danny Mullins, overtaking the leader as they turned for home.
With a nudge from Mullins, Blizzard Of Oz surged ahead approaching the final hurdle, maintaining his lead to the finish line. The victor crossed two and a quarter lengths ahead of Purse Price (33/1), who staged a late rally to secure second place by a neck over Backtonormal.
Trainer Willie Mullins praised Blizzard Of Oz's performance, highlighting the benefits of the shorter distance and improved jumping compared to the Naas race. Mullins also noted that the ground conditions were not as challenging as expected, as witnessed by the ease with which Blizzard Of Oz navigated the course compared to stablemate Captain Cody.
Looking ahead, Mullins hinted at potential plans for both Blizzard Of Oz and Captain Cody, suggesting they may be aimed towards the upcoming final in Punchestown with a preparatory run scheduled beforehand.
This victory marks Blizzard Of Oz's third career win, following successes in a bumper at Cork and a maiden hurdle at Punchestown.