Willie Mullins will treasure yesterday's humble fare at Tramore, for he completed his first double at the venue since joining the board of the progressive seaside track some 18 months ago.
Mary's Manna set the ball rolling for Mullins and helped championship leader Ruby Walsh to his 45 win of the campaign when deservedly breaking her duck over the smaller obstacles in the Faithlegge House Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
The Walsh-Mullins alliance struck again in the Waterford Castle Rated Hurdle with Mykon Gold, who carries the colours of the Lucan-based Festival Syndicate. Despite bursting a blood vessel, Mykon Gold swept to a smooth nine-length success from market leader Clash Of The Gales.
Padre Mio, formerly trained by Charlie Brooks, was bought back by his breeder Paddy Fennelly last May, and turned the Granville Hotel Beginners Chase into a procession for Kieran Gaule after sweeping to the front before five out. Top-weight Hakkinen provided Austin Leahy with his first win of the season and landed a tidy touch in the process. Supported from 12 to 1 to half those odds, the seven-year-old, who may reappear at Clonmel next Sunday, jumped well throughout for Kevin O'Sullivan to score by eight lengths.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)