RACING:BUNDLE OF FUN and Ruby Walsh were about the only bright spot for punters at Downpatrick yesterday.
Willie Mullins finally got a win out of Bundle Of Fun in the Now Your Talking EBF Beginners Chase at Downpatrick.
The 7 to 4 favourite, who has been expensive to follow since joining the champion trainer, took the lead on the run to the penultimate fence, where his task was made easier by the fall of Days Ahead, and he wasn’t hard pressed from that point to inflict a comprehensive defeat on Scholars Mate.
Mullins had to settle for second when Shes Tensixtysix couldn’t reel in Drumgooland in the Come Back And Visit Us INH Flat Race, while the Book Your Abba Christmas Party Handicap Chase went the way of Barnevelder.
Musawama destroyed his rivals in the Join The Party Raceday Maiden Hurdle.
Having his first start for Denis Cullen, the 8 to 1 shot was given an enterprising ride by Barry Cash and had matters sewn up a long way from the finish, eventually coasting home 31 lengths ahead of Nell’s Nan.
There was a thrilling tussle for the Local Business Handicap Hurdle, with Fitzgutentyte and World Citizen going head to head from a long way out.
The former stuck to his guns really well, but couldn’t quite match World Citizen (33 to 1), who responded to all of Jody McGarvey’s urgings to prevail by three-quarters of a lengths.
North Star Lad derived enough benefit from his jumping introduction a couple of weeks ago to land the honours in the Prestige Catering Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meades 16 to 1 chance jumped the last slightly slower than leader Pigeon Creek but quickened smartly after it to register a 13-length success.
Meade and Paul Carberry followed up when Dark Prospect (11 to 2) made a successful start to his career over fences in the www.downpatrickracecourse.co.uk Beginners Chase.
The seven-year-old took the last a couple of lengths adrift of market leader Clara More but Carberry was merely conserving his mount’s energy and he surged down the home straight to collect the prize.
Barnevelder, in first-time blinkers, gave Clane handler Shane Nolan his opening winner on the racecourse proper and rider Robbie Moran his initial success of this campaign in the Book Your Abba Xmas Handicap Chase.
Barnevelder led at the last and the Old Vic gelding, out of a half-sister to Grade One winner, Feathered Leader, went away to beat the well-backed favourite Dunroe Boy, who had looked sure to score. Dunroe Boy found no extra on the run-in and he went down by six and a half lengths.
Nolan, who trains at Sarah Taaffe’s yard in Co Kildare said: “I knew he was working better in the blinkers. He’ll stay much further. He’s in Clonmel on Sunday and is for sale.”
Meanwhile, jump jockey Andrew Thornton plans to be back race-riding by the middle of next month.
The weighing-room veteran is well on the road to recovery after undergoing keyhole surgery on his knee following a fall at Southwell in July.
Thornton saw a specialist yesterday and was given the all-clear to start riding out next week.
Replacement meetings have been announced by Horseracing Ireland at Tipperary (October 8th), Tramore (October 12th), Roscommon (October 15th) and Fairyhouse (October 23rd).
FIRST WINNER: O'Brien guides Mulligan home
Conditional jockey Paul O’Brien (20) was beaming from ear to ear after riding his first winner under Rules on the Donald McCain-trained Mulligan’s Man at Perth yesterday.
The Cork-born rider joined McCain earlier this year and having enjoyed his first ride in a bumper a few weeks ago, was given the opportunity to partner the 1 to 2 favourite Mulligan’s Man in the opening Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Novices’ Hurdle in Scotland. Unbeaten in three starts since being snapped up by McCain for €25,000 at Cheltenham Sales in May, Mulligan’s Man travelled powerfully throughout and moved up to challenge market rival Benefit Of Youth between the last two flights. O’Brien (20) could have been forgiven for getting a little excited as he eyeballed Richard Johnson, but remained cool to score by eight lengths.
