Mullins and Harrington end year on a high
Mullins triumphed with three-year-old hurdling debutant Deutschland and veteran Adamant Approach, which defied his years (he turns thirteen today) by defying top-weight in the Buy Your Tickets On Line At www.punchestown.com Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by claimer Richie Kiely, a hero at Limerick earlier in the week, and apparently the less-fancied of the stable's two runners, Adamant Approach forged clear of his rivals after jumping the second last hurdle before running out a convincing winner from Santa's Son.
Trainer Mullins declared “I'm delighted with that. Fitness won the day for him and the other horse (Jouer D'Estruval) probably needed the run,” before confirming Adamant Appraoch a runner in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 14, a race he won back in 2002.
Cashmans introduced Deutschland at 20/1 into their Triumph Hurdle betting after he made a winning hurdling debut in the Celebrate New Year's Eve At Punchestown 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle.
Confidently ridden by Ruby Walsh, the 11/4 favourite pounced at the last to defeat fellow hurdling debutant Shazand by five lengths, prompting Mullins to explain: “He was bought as a replacement for Holy Orders. His owner saw him win on the flat at Ayr and went to the Newmarket sales to buy him.
"He was a bit 'novicy' today and there should be plenty of improvement in him. Soft ground is a must. He'll go for a 'winners of one' or the Grade 2 at Leopardstown on Hennessy day.”
Jessica Harrington, who confirmed stable star Mac's Joy “in great order” and on course to make his seasonal debut in the AIG also doubled-up, with last year's Pierse winner Studmaster in the attheraces.com Free Video Form Hurdle and Luke Victor (Andrew Leigh) in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The trainer was particularly pleased by Studmaster's return to winning form after disappointing in his early starts over fences, “He lost his confidence over fences, but is a very whole-hearted horse. I was worried about so little jumping (two hurdles were omitted due to high winds), but he won well.” She added: “I'm not sure where he'll go. But I'm half thinking of going for the Tote Gold Trophy.
“He didn't get into it last season but would enjoy the fast-run two miles there. We might even delay going back over fences until next season.”
Dessie Hughes continued his remarkable run of success, having recorded a success on each of the last eight racing days, when Imperial Sun, strongly-ridden by in-form Roger Loughran, won the three-mile beginners chase prior to a career in staying handicaps.
Tony Martin's Best World, under an ultra-confident ride by Robbie Colgan, bolted up in the two-mile handicap chase, slamming Johnee Joblot by nine lengths but is unlikely to run under a mandatory penalty at Thurles on Thursday.
Robbie McNamara produced the Tim Doyle-trained debutante Vincenti Vitae with a perfectly-timed challenge to outpoint another newcomer Balleen Rose in the mares bumper, to the delight of her owner-breeder Padraig O'Connor from Cashel.
The Kanturk/Duhallow point-to-point at Dromahane, postponed yesterday because of high winds, has been re-scheduled for today at 12.30.
