Poignant win as Mr Policeman lands Michael O'Sullivan Chase at Mallow

“It’s nice to win the race named after Mick, and Janna, who led him up, is a cousin of Mick’s,” said Slevin. “He was also Mick’s first winner for Willie, and he did it well.”

Sun, 20 Apr, 2025 - 20:42

Tommy Lyons

Willie Mullins was on the mark in Fairyhouse and, crucially to his chance of retaining the trainers’ championship in Britain, at Plumpton, and he also took the opportunity to land the Grade Three Michael O’Sullivan Chase as part of a treble in Cork.

Doubly represented in the five-runner feature in Mallow, his market leader, Asterion Forlonge, was still in there with every chance until unshipping his rider two from home. It likely mattered little to the result as Mullins’ Mister Policeman, ridden by JJ Slevin, had moved well in behind and was poised to pounce.

When he raced away to see off Fil Dor with the minimum of fuss, he was a most poignant winner as he had been Michael O’Sullivan’s first for Willie Mullins, and that came on this very card two years ago. O’Sullivan went on to complete a treble on the same day, adding one more for Mullins, and one for Barry Connell.

“It’s nice to win the race named after Mick, and Janna, who led him up, is a cousin of Mick’s,” said Slevin. “He was also Mick’s first winner for Willie, and he did it well.”

Of this race, he added: “Willie said to ride him for a bit of speed as he thought he was a quick horse, and the plan was to have one go at them. When I gave him a squeeze, he came alive, and it was just a matter of sitting up on him and getting him over the last. He was very impressive.

“He won his first few races very well, and then he pulled up in a Plate, and he pulled up another time, but he might be back on track now. He’s not slow, and he wouldn’t mind coming back in trip even, and even a bit of slower ground would be no harm to him.”

On a good day for Slevin, he also landed the card’s most valuable race, the Bar One Racing Easter Handicap Hurdle, aboard the Stuart Crawford-trained Krak.

Mullins completed a Cork treble with Mirazur West taking the beginners’ chase under Jody McGarvey, and Doctor Du Mesnil making a winning track debut in the Finbarr Quaid Electrical Bumper.

Jody Townend, who rode the latter with great confidence, was suitably impressed with the runaway winner, saying: “He’s going to be a good horse. He’s so relaxed, you can ride him anyway you want. He’s a different horse on grass compared to even at home. He picked up in two strides and I knew I had them covered. If he can get off the ground at all over a jump, I’d say he will be a very good horse. He’s a big chaser in the making.”

Paul Nolan has a promising sort in Colonia Victoria, who got off the mark over timber at the second time of asking by taking the O’Flynn Motors Mallow Mares’ Maiden Hurdle. The mount of Sean O’Keeffe, the experienced Flat racer was prominent throughout, led down over the last couple, and kept the promising Nytol at bay with more than three lengths to spare.

Said Nolan: “Tom Malone sourced her, and she wasn’t overly expensive. She had a good lot of runs on the Flat and had a mark in the 90s, so she was a decent filly. Zarak is a top-class Flat sire, and he’s had a few jumps winners as well, and she’s value going forward. We’re delighted to win a maiden hurdle with her, and hopefully she’ll continue to improve, particularly when she steps up in trip.”

Eternal Echo was uneasy in the market prior to his hurdling debut in the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle but the Gordon Elliott-trained juvenile made a winning start with the help of a well-judged ride by Danny Gilligan.

The winning rider completed a double by taking the Hibernian Hotel Mallow Handicap Hurdle aboard the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Nelson County. The winner, appreciating the conditions, found plenty under pressure to fend off the determined Cullig.

Trainer Andy Slattery saddled his third winner of the month when Smooth Tom made all the running to win the Bar One Racing Hurdle under Cian Quirke.

“He’s a grand horse,” said Slattery. “He was placed in two Lincolns, and a mile would be too short for him on the Flat. We might supplement him for the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. If there were only five runners, why not? We’d get our money back. He’s a lovely horse. We were also thinking about the Galway Hurdle with him, but we have his sister, Royal Hollow, for that.”