NAVAN trainer Paul Mulligan saddled his first winner since taking out his licence just over a year ago as Wrecking Ball Paul made all in the AXA Farm Insurance Midlands National Day Friday 14th July Handicap Hurdle at a well-attended Kilbeggan.

The Jet Away gelding, who ran third on the flat at Listowel the previous day, benefitted from a well-judged ride by Ben Harvey with the 9/1 shot keeping on well from before the last to beat Hidalgo Des Mottes by four and a quarter lengths..

Mulligan, surrounded by delighted members of the Crane Crew Syndicate, said: “I rode years ago and I took out a licence last year as Ben and Rory (sons) were riding and I got a few horses for them. We have 10 horses.

“I worked for Jimmy Fitzgerald and Ger Lyons and gave it up around 2003 and did all sorts of work since then.

“It took a long time to get this horse to settle. Ben (Harvey) gave him a great ride and did exactly as he was told. He ran at Listowel yesterday and it took the edge off him. If he’s mad fresh he’d run away with the jockey. He licked the pot last night and drank a load of water so we said we’d chance him today.”

At the other end of the training scale, Willie Mullins sent out a short-priced double with What Path and Ninth Loch.

The Mags Masterson-owned What Path followed up a maiden win at Tipperary just over a fortnight ago when readily justifying 6/5 favouritism in the three-mile novice hurdle, taking control approaching the final flight to easily beat Stuzzikini by 11 lengths.

“He’s a big horse for around here and is going to be better when he gets a fence in front of him. He loved the trip and the ground,” said winning rider Paul Townend. “I’d imagine he will keep going and maybe he could go to Galway.”

Townend’s sister Jody completed the Mullins double on Ninth Loch in the Greville Arms Hotel Mullingar Flat Race, although the 8/11 shot’s half-a-length victory over Arabian Diamond was certainly not straightforward with Townend reporting the bit came through the horse’s mount which led him to hang quite badly.

A MERE Bagatelle made all to land some nice bets in the featured Entegro Handicap Chase.

The 8/1 (25/1 overnight) chance put up a fine round of jumping with the only scare coming at the last where Simon Torrens did well to keep the partnership intact before going on to beat Broken Ice by a comfortable seven lengths.

“Everyone told me he wanted soft ground and we ran him all winter,” said Shark Hanlon, who trains the six-year-old for Alan Cullen. “I rang the owner six weeks ago and told him I have the horse in and he said are you mad! We said we’d give him one go on goodish ground and if it don’t work we’ll let him back out.

“He’ll be tipping around now for the summer and the Galway Blazers is at the back of my mind. He’ll stay galloping all day.”

Noel Meade, successful with Not Just Yet on the flat at Listowel, completed a 272/1 across the card mixed double as Too Bright also adopted front-running tactics in the Sustainable Ladies Style Competition Friday July 14th Beginners Chase.

The five-year-old gelding, owned in partnership by Albert Dravins and Eamonn Scanlon, jumped well and kept on strongly from before the last under Sean Flanagan to beat Changing The Rules by nearly four lengths at odds of 20/1.

“He was good schooling at home but the first day (over fences) he was disappointing and he just reached for one down the back the last day,” said Meade.

“He got things his own way today. We’ll see what the handicapper rates him and he’ll keep on the go over the summer.”

FLIDAIS opened her account in spectacular fashion when routing her rivals in division one of the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

The 6/1 chance stretched right away in the straight under Liam Quinlan to beat El Champo by 30 lengths and owner/trainer John Ryan was in typically positive mood afterwards saying: “This is one for a proper novice hurdle. She shows me plenty of class at home and is a lovely quick jumper.”

On a good day for front runners, Men Of Dreams was another to appreciate forcing tactics in division two as the 9/1 (from 12/1) shot asserted on the run-in under Shane Fitzgerald to score by four and a half lengths.

“I’m delighted and they are a lovely bunch of owners (Men Of Dreams Partnership),” said trainer Johnny Levins. “He’d a lovely run here first time out over hurdles in a race that has worked out well but I then ran him back at Ballinrobe too soon.

“His jumping is very slick. Ricky Doyle has done all the schooling on him and said from day one to forget about the flat and go jumping with him. Hopefully he’ll get a bit of confidence now.”

More Info (12/1) did bookmakers a favour in the three-mile handicap hurdle, with the Denis Hogan-trained mare asserting before the last to beat 3/1 favourite Tuff Days by four and a half lengths.

“She wants every bit of the trip but travelled super the whole way and jumped super as well,” said winning rider Daniel King. “It’s nice to get a winner for Tim (Conroy, owner/breeder) who has been a good supporter of Denis for many years.