Mulleady makes it look easy

Mulleady and Paul Townend, in the news after a recent outing at Roscommon, made the headlines again at Ballinrobe last night when romping to an emphatic win over Via Del Corso and disappointing favourite Chiltern Hills in the Mayo Advertiser Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Tony Martin-trained mare travelled sweetly throughout and won readily by eight lengths, prompting her trainer to comment: “She started to come to hand in the spring and ran well in Roscommon. And I though this didn’t look a very competitive race. We’ll tip away with her and look for another mares’ race.”

Martin was expected to complete a double with the Ruby Walsh-ridden favourite Tepalo in the concluding maiden hurdle. However, he failed by a half length to peg back Mic Milano, a first winner over hurdles for jockey Mark Enright, whose trainer John Ryan enthused: “He’s a smashing horse, but difficult to train, because you can’t keep condition on him. He’s an exceptional jumper and I’m really looking forward to him over fences.”