Flyer ends Mullins’ perfect sequence
Mullins’ As De Ferbet was sent off the 2-1 favourite and was given a positive ride from the outset, but Davy Russell chose to contest the early lead aboard Shantou Flyer, and the two runners gave a great sight out in front.
There was never much more than a hair’s breadth between them throughout, and when the race entered the closing stages only chasing newcomer Clondaw Farmer threatened to spoil the party.
However, the leaders had plenty left to give and it was only in the final half furlong that Shantou Flyer asserted.
Russell said: “His jumping was a credit to Colin and the team. He’s a good honest horse, and stays very well. He’s an idle type, and will never win too far.”
There was also a cracking finish to the second race, a novice chase in which the same team responsible for the victory of Shanahan’s Turn in the Galway Plate — trainer Henry De Bromhead, owners Ann and Alan Potts, and jockey Jonathon Burke — scored with Sizing Platinum.
In the van most of the way, he responded generously to see off the market leader’s late challenge.
De Bromhead said: “He’s a young man’s ride, the way he jumped the two in the dip. It was a super ride again from Johnny.”
Jessica Harrington’s fine week continued when she recorded a 34-1 double, led off by Princess Aloof in the Hop House 13 Handicap.
A shade unfortunate at Killarney on her previous start, she was sent off a well-backed 6-1 chance and obliged in the hands of Shane Foley. In mid-division for much of the trip, she moved up to challenge inside the last couple of furlongs, and raced clear to beat Shalamzar.
Harrington’s brace was completed when the Ron Wood-owned Sandymount Duke belied a triple penalty to complete a personal four-timer in the Guinness Novice Hurdle.
Backed from 6-1 into 4-1, in light of late opposition to odds-on favourite Gangster, the gallant six-year-old made every yard, and ran on strongly to score a shade cosily. Harrington said: “The more the horses come at him, the most he pulls out, and I just don’t know how good he could be.”
Willie Mullins also chalked up a double, the first leg of which came from Laviniad in the Lister Arthur Guinness Corrib Fillies’ Stakes.
Favourite Tested looked to be heading for victory when sent to the front two out, but Declan McDonogh got a great run out of Laviniad, and she got up on the far rails to prevail by a head, with the fast-finishing Corail the same distance away in third.
“She’s very temperamental,” admitted Mullins. “We had an awful job to get Declan onto her. I didn’t dream she’d win, but she’s got really strong this year. She’s entered in Cork next week. She’s won there before and I’m a great believer in horses for courses, so she may run.”
Mullins had to wait until the bumper to complete his brace, as 7-4 chance Prince D’Aubrelle made it third-time lucky with a smooth success under Patrick Mullins.
Bog War continues to be a real credit to trainer Liam Cusack, and the five-year-old, who, during the National Hunt season, won three handicap hurdles in little more than a month, justified heavy support to secure his first Flat victory in almost a year.
