Barrow in over-drive

Barrow Drive completed a five-timer for trainer Tony Mullins in the mud at Punchestown to compensate for a mishap earlier in the afternoon to another of the stable’s stars, The Galway Man.

Barrow Drive jumped well for Barry Geraghty in the featured Irish Field Novice Chase to extend his winning sequence as a generously priced 11-8 favourite, but supporters of Thari got an early shock when Paul Carberry’s mount crashed out at the first fence.

Despite the gallant attempt of 25-1 chance Come In Moscow, Barrow Drive opened up a decisive advantage once over the fourth-last fence and sauntered to a 25-length victory over that rival to book a crack at the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse.

“This horse is a clever jumper though he does not work particularly impressively at home. He goes to Fairyhouse, then to Leopardstown after Christmas and the plan is to give him a break before heading to the Cheltenham Festival in March,” said winning trainer Mullins.

However, the former jockey had a bad start to the day when highly-rated The Galway Man was pulled up starting the final circuit by Norman Williamson in the opening novice hurdle.

Satco Express (7-1) gave weight and a beating to all his rivals in an impressive front-running display in the hands of Charlie Swan, but The Galway Man was in close proximity before his mishap.

A drifter out to 2-1 favourite, Williamson’s mount was taken from the course to the Curragh Veterinary Hospital to be attended by the leading vet Ned Gowing.

“There is serious muscle damage in the horse’s back and Ned wants to X-ray the pelvis again to determine if there is any fracture,” Mullins said.

“If he finds a fracture, this horse will be out for the rest of the season but muscle problems can be got over quicker than that.

“Hopefully we don’t have a major problem with this horse which I bought the same day as I spotted Barrow Drive,” Mullins added.

Friend’s Amigo was an impressive victor on his jumping debut in the hands of local jockey Ruby Walsh, the well-supported winner of a bumper at Naas more than a year previously coasting home by eight lengths from the strong finishing Kadiskar (8-1) to maintain his undefeated record for Tipperary trainer Pat Doyle.