Quiryn puts down bumper marker at Naas

Quiryn looks another exciting bumper horse for Willie Mullins judged on an impressive debut at Naas.

Sporting the Masterson silks carried by top-class performers like Carefully Selected, Appreciate It, Kilcruit and Champ Kiely, the four-year-old French recruit was a 9-4 shot for his competitive introduction in the Fifty Stars At Sunnyhill Stud (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

The champion trainer’s son Patrick cut a confident figure in the saddle throughout and his mount finished off strongly to score by nine lengths, earning him a quote of 25-1 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival with Paddy Power.

“He’d been working well and we were hoping he’d put up a good performance,” said Mullins’ assistant David Casey.

“We’ve always liked him since we got him and he’s done all the right things at home. He’s a fine, big horse and I think he’ll improve away.

“I don’t know what was in the race but all he can do is win and I thought he was impressive doing it. Hopefully he’ll go on to better things.”

Quiryn’s victory was the second leg of a double on the card for the Closutton team, with Future Prospect (11-10 favourite) having made a successful start to her jumping career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, beating Newbrook Diamond by nine and a half lengths.

Winning jockey Paul Townend said: “She was keen up the straight the first time but when she met the hurdles, she gave herself a chance which she probably wasn’t doing in bumpers.

“She jumped brilliantly and it allowed me to get a little breather into her. She’s tough and hardy.

“When I pulled her out she stayed going really well and I think she can improve plenty for it.”

Father and son Martin and Conor Brassil combined to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle with 3-1 favourite Run For Cover.

“We were trying to get her to settle as she’s very keen at home. Conor said we were wasting our time and we should try to make the running, Ricky (Doyle) rode her in Fairyhouse the last day and she won, so why would you change it when it worked,” said Brassil senior.

“She’ll get further, but she’ll probably be penalised because of her style of running – she is either going to win or be swallowed up.

“We’ll freshen her up and find another race for her. She’ll jump a fence, too.”