WILLIE Mullins had four runners at Killarney on Monday evening and all of them hit the target including Saint Sam who registered a first graded success in the featured BoyleSports An Riocht Chase.

Sent off 9/4 favourite for the Grade 3 contest, the six-year-old tracked the leaders and from four out Paul Townend’s mount had Effernock Fizz in his sights.

He went past that gallant front-runner two out and was untroubled from there to defeat her by four and a quarter lengths with the pair well clear of the remainder.

It was a third chase win from six starts over fences for Saint Sam.

Mullins commented: “He’s just so well in himself but the biggest thing I got from today was the fact that he settled so well over the first mile. Maybe the penny is beginning to drop with him.

“You’d think the way he got two miles and four furlongs there and the way he looked after the winning post, he might be a Galway Plate horse, but maybe his handicap mark is blown. I’ll look around for conditions races.

“He jumps very well and I think if he learns to settle more, he’ll be better again, he’ll improve away as he goes up in trip.

Gibraltar

“His owners (Edward and Mary Ware) have come over from Gibraltar. It’s their first time in Killarney and I think they will be back again.”

Expensive French recruit Absurde (2/7 favourite), bought for €260,000 at Arqana last summer, was the first Mullins-trained winner of the evening in the Executive Helicopters Sliabh Luachra Novice Hurdle.

A dual winner and twice runner-up at listed level on the flat for Carlos Laffon-Parias, the Fastnet Rock gelding tracked the leaders before heading the front-running Emily Roebling before the last and just needed to be pushed out to beat that rival by three and a quarter lengths.

Winning rider Paul Townend, in the colours of the H O S Syndicate, said: “He has a lot to improve on but was going straight into a novice without a maiden run.

“Going two and a half miles after coming off the Flat they can tend to latch on but he settled no bother. He was novicey at a couple of hurdles but found his way over them.”

EASY-to-back 6/4 favourite Annamix was another for Closutton as he landed the Michael Lenihan Heart Safe Charity Hunters Chase.

The grey, owned by Mrs Susannah Ricci, narrowly headed the always prominent Nice To Meet at the last and, although the latter rallied gamely, Annamix found just enough to hold on by a short-head. Winning rider Patrick Mullins said: “He jumped brilliant but didn’t finish as strong as I thought he might.

“The whole reason we kept him this year was for Aintree and he didn’t qualify in time. Hopefully next year that will be the aim.”

The 11/4 joint-favourite Naruto, owned by football agent David Manasseh, made all under Jody Townend in the Beaufort Golf Club Ladies (Pro/Am) Flat Race to complete the Mullins four-timer.

Third on debut at Thurles, the Champs Elysees gelding stayed on well to beat Minella Mate by a length and three quarters.

“That fella will go straight over hurdles,” said Mullins. “He’s a nice big jumping type and will jump a fence in time. I think he likes a bit of nice ground.”

Tom takes honours after tough tussle

STEALTHY Tom (3/1 favourite) and outsider Broken Ice had a great tussle in the BoyleSports Handicap Chase with the former winning on the nod by a nose.

It was a third win in all at Killarney for the J.P. McManus-owned Yeats gelding whose trainer Enda Bolger said: “He’s a grand horse. He won this last year and won over the banks at Punchestown in February.

“He was just touched off in the La Touche which I think is going to be his game down the track. He stays well and needed every bit of the two and a half miles there.”

Turned over at odds-on in his previous two outings, 4/9 favourite The Short Go made no mistake in the Cronin Electrical Maiden Hurdle when making all under Rachael Blackmore.

Asserted

Nolan Byrne’s Fame And Glory gelding asserted at the second last and stayed on well to comfortably defeat All For Rachel by 11 lengths.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “I’m delighted for Nolan and all the Byrnes and it’s great that he’s won here as this is one of their local tracks.

“He has really turned inside out in the last few months. He stays well and will keep on the go over the summer.”

The M.D. O’Shea & Sons Handicap Hurdle produced a good finish with 9/2 joint-favourite Prince Zaltar, who got in as second reserve, coming from off the pace to beat Optional Mix by a neck in the hands of Paddy O’Hanlon.

Fantastic

Phidelma Elvin, representing winning trainer Philip Rothwell, said, “Delighted to get that first win of the season and huge thanks to the owners (the Blind Squirrels Syndicate).

“Paddy was just unbelievable and got him there just on the line, it was fantastic to watch.”

Mary Cassatt (15/2), trained by John McConnell, appreciated the step up to two miles and six furlongs in the Killarney Racegoers Club Mares Maiden Hurdle.

After hitting the front on the approach to the final flight, she forged clear to beat Knockanard Lady by six lengths.

Winning rider Alex Harvey said: “She won over a mile and five in France but never really travelled today. I just let her go at the pace she wanted and she jumped away and crept into it. She’s very genuine and needs a trip.”

The four-year-old is owned in partnership by the Dividebyfive Syndicate & Rockview Stables.