Mullins' Mallow double caps fruitful weekend
Aine and Patrick Mullins win The Irish Stallion Farms EBF 4-y-o Fillies Flat Race for trainer Willie Mullins. Pic: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins brought his tally for the weekend and the new season to six thanks to a double in Mallow, initiated when Doctor Du Mesnil justified 2/9 favouritism in the three-mile Springfort Hall Country House Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
A fourth winner of the new campaign for former champion Paul Townend, the Doctor Dino gelding, impressive on his bumper debut here over a year ago and last seen when pulled up in the ‘Albert Bartlett’ at Cheltenham, made all and, despite a few sloppy jumps, had plenty in hand as he came home five lengths clear of Doctor Elvis.
“He was very idle in front and the hurdles weren’t big enough for him,” explained Townend. “It’s nice to get him back winning and it should do his confidence good. We won’t see the best of him until he jumps a fence.”
The Closutton double was completed when debutante Aine, the 15/8 favourite, in the familiar Fitzgerald colours, dug deep to see off Tell The Boys and A Stoirin in the four-year-old fillies bumper, asserting late to score by two and a quarter lengths.
The Doctor Dino mare was ridden to victory by Patrick Mullins, who said: “She was green and she needed the whole lengths of the straight, but was well on top at the line.
“Our summer bumper horses are needing the experience more than in other years. This filly has a good flat pedigree (her dam Anna’s Star is a half-sister to Annie Power) but will enjoy going out in trip.”
Earlier, Paddy Twomey, enjoying a purple patch and in double form at Leopardstown, notched his first win over hurdles when 4/6 favourite Arouet, in the colours of Michael Ryan, picked up on the run-in for Dan King to beat Karlynn in the four-year-old maiden hurdle.
“Dan said he jumped and travelled well,” said Connor King, representing Twomey. “He got in close to the last, but picked up well. I’d say he’ll have a mixed programme, flat and hurdles, for the summer.”
Richard Hennessy, who trains a small string in Castlemartyr savoured his first success when 100/1 shot Local News, making her debut in the colours of the trainer’s wife Stephanis, foiled 4/7 favourite Divaboriva by a head in the mares maiden hurdle.
“We are dairy farmers and keep a few horses as a hobby,” admitted Hennessy.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
