Bishopsfurze answers Ruby’s call
Jim Will Fix It and Rathlin carried them along and Bishopsfurze seemed to be in trouble heading out into the country for the final time.
But Walsh never gave up the ghost and persuaded and cajoled the six-year-old to gradually close down the leaders.
Rathlin was beaten early in the straight and when Jim Will Fix It was none too clever at the last, Walsh seized the moment to drive Bishopsfurze to the front close home.
“Ruby was very good,” said Mullins. “He’s not a horse who has a fantastic reputation as a jumper, but at the fourth last Ruby put it up to him and he answered.
“He will step up in grade now and I’d like to keep him to country tracks. But there aren’t many winners of one at those and we may have to go to metropolitan tracks.”
It was Mullins and Walsh as well in the Glen Chase, with uneasy favourite Apt Approach doing the business.
If the pilot was good on Bishopsfurze then he was even better here, something which wasn’t lost on the trainer. “Our man was awesome there, he is a very difficult horse to ride,” said Mullins.
Apt Approach was awkward over the second last, but Walsh rallied him in typical style and the winner was in front at the final fence and soon nicely in control. Well-backed Ballinahow Lady tried to make all, but was beaten in third when falling at the last.
The Mullins-Walsh was treble was completed in smooth fashion by hot-pot Zaidpour in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle.
He coasted through the contest, eased ahead between the last two and never came off the bridle to beat Boland’s Corner.
“I think he is much stronger and I’m far happier with him at home than I was in the second half of last season,” remarked Mullins.
Shay Barry, who rode Ballinahow Lady, was stood down after that race, with a sore thumb and missed a winner aboard Is Herself About in the Thurles Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Davy Russell stood in and wasn’t found wanting, driving the David O’Brien-trained daughter of Flemensfirth to beat Chasing Shadows by three parts of a length.
“That was a very important winner for me, because David taught me how to ride,” said a clearly delighted Russell.
Commented O’Brien: “She was a bit keen in bumpers, but has learned to switch off since going jumping.”
Long odds-on favourite Chaperoned came there tanking early in the straight, but then dropped away in a few strides.
Russell ended the day with two winners when taking the Holycross Maiden Hurdle on Better Times.
Trained by Denis Cullen, the seven-year-old was making his first appearance since falling at Thurles back in January.
But he stripped fit and well, went off favourite and was always getting the best of the battle with A Fine Young Man on the run in.
The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase saw Shark Hanlon enjoy a welcome turn with Supreme Builder, partnered by Brian Hayes.
After looking as if she would stop to a walk before the straight, she found further reserves to get the best of a dour tussle with Jolily. Supreme Builder was Hanlon's 100th winner on the track.
The Munster Handicap Hurdle was a moderate contest and it saw an easy success for Philip Fenton’s On My Own.
He was galloping all over the opposition from a fair way out and only had to be nudged into the lead between the last two flights by Brian O’Connell to beat Would You Do That.
