DANNY Mullins has been making hay in the absence of Paul Townend so far this new National Hunt season and he moved onto the 15-winner mark for the campaign with a double via Ruaille Buaille and Presenting Bonnie.
Ruaille Buaille put a disappointing run at the Punchestown Festival behind her to take the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Mares Hurdle in impressive fashion.
Trained by Willie Mullins for the Ri Ra Racing Syndicate, the well-supported 5/6 favourite made smooth headway to breeze past front-runner The Getaway Star before the home turn and soon stretched clear to beat that rival by an easy 10 lengths.
Willie Mullins was represented by his son Patrick who said: “Her rating probably entitled her to win. She disappointed on slower ground at Punchestown and the return to good ground really saw her at her best today.
“She should be competitive in all those mares’ hurdles and I’m sure we’ll try and find something for her in Galway. She’s not very big so I’m not sure she would jump a fence and maybe she could go back for a flat maiden. She’s not slow.”
Willie Mullins later completed a double (four on the day with two at Listowel as well) in the bumper where Minella Cocooner readily justified odds of 2/5 on his racecourse debut, stretching clear in the straight under Patrick Mullins for an easy 10-length verdict over Bowtie.
“He has an excellent pedigree, by Flemensfirth out of Askanna, who was a good mare for Colin Bowe. He’s not particularly a summer horse and I think he’ll be very competitive in the winter. He’ll jump hurdles and fences – I don’t know whether I’ll manage to get a winners’ bumper out of him but I’ll ask Willie,” said winning rider Patrick Mullins.
“He’s above average and it’s good for the owner (David Bobbett) who had Minella Encore and Mr Adjudicator but has had some bad luck lately.”
DANNY Mullins teamed up with in-form Templemore trainer John Ryan as Presenting Bonnie, owned by a Gardai (Mules & Tools Racing) Syndicate, justified strong support in the Axa Smart Farm Insurance Midlands National Day Friday 9th July Handicap Hurdle.
Quotes of 8/1 early in the day had shrunk to 15/8 by the off, and the favourite was driven clear on the run-in to beat Turkestan by two and three-quarter lengths.
“She’s a good mare and Danny gave her a great ride. She won her maiden here the last day and the handicapper put her up 5lb but I thought she was still reasonably well-handicapped.
“She loved that better ground and is going to be a very good mare over fences. She’s by Presenting and all that family love to rattle off the ground,” said Ryan.
Great effect
Danny Mullins is currently one ahead (15-14) of Rachael Blackmore in the jockeys’ championship after the latter was seen to great effect aboard Chelseas Friend in the Follow Kilbeggan On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Jimmy Mangan for his brother Billy, the 9/2 shot rallied gamely in the closing stages to deny John Adams by a neck.
The Mangans were represented by another brother, John, who said: “She is the old pedigree of Buck House and Doorknocker who won the Champion Hurdle (in 1956). She had problems as a four- and five-year-old and lucky enough a vet in Kildorrery, Conor O’Brien, solved them and she’s won three since. Rachael keeps saying “I’m going to the front too soon”, but we are so lucky to have the best rider in the world riding for us.”
Ya Boy ticks all the boxes for Kenny
YA Boy Ya is certainly a horse very close to James Kenny’s heart and he completed the full National Hunt set on the Orphan Girl Syndicate-owned gelding in the Mid-Summer Monday 14th June Race Evening Beginners Chase.
The 17/2 chance responded to the 22-year-old Gorey amateur’s urgings getting the better of One Down on the run-in to eventually score by nearly five lengths.
Kenny, who has won 25 races in the point-to-point sphere but was recording his first win over fences under rules, said “He’s been a good old servant. I’ve won a couple of point-to-points on him, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, so I’ve won every type of race on him now.”
The Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Handicap Chase was the other race over fences on the card, and Fill The Tank gained a deserved first win under rules for owner/trainer Aengus King.
The 6/1 shot challenged at the last and stayed on really well in the closing stages under Cathal Landers to beat Mister Bells by five lengths.
“He won his point-to-point and didn’t progress from it at the time so he’s well overdue his win. I only have a few as a permit holder but all the horses in the yard seem to be coming right at the moment.
“He’s a big horse and we thought soft ground would suit him but he travels away on that,” said the Newmarket-On-Fergus trainer.
JACK Foley picked up a chance ride on Daicheadacuig in division two of the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle after Conor McNamara was concussed from a fall in the opener, and he took full advantage as the 7/1 shot led approaching the last and quickly asserted for an impressive six-length success.
Robbie McNamara, assistant trainer to his father Andrew, said: “He’s a straightforward horse and Jack gave him a lovely ride. Brian (Mortell, owner) had him for point-to-pointing and does a lot of the work with him.
“He’d a couple of good runs under his belt, is consistent and honest and probably had a high enough rating to win a summer maiden hurdle.”
Connections of Asserted were rewarded for their patience in division one of this contest.
Trained by Joseph O’Brien for Gigginstown House Stud, the Kayf Tara gelding cost €90,000 at the Land Rover Sale three years ago and had just one point-to-point outing in 2019.
Shane Fitzgerald was seen to good effect aboard the 9/2 chance, making good ground from off the pace and leading after the last to beat Kavanaghs Cross by four and a half lengths.
Fitzgerald said: “He came home very well. He’s not the quickest in the world but he’d stay galloping all day.
“He’s a nice horse and he’ll definitely improve off that. I ride out for Joseph two days a week and also for John Ryan two days. That’s my third winner.”