Fairyhouse four-timer for Willie Mullins as Christmas bonanza looms
A four-time winner at Punchestown last week, Willie Mullins matched that feat when again dominating at Fairyhouse on Saturday. This time his winners were ridden by four different jockeys.
Mark Walsh had an easy time of it as the four-year-old Majborough made a winning start to his career over fences in the two-mile beginners’ chase for owner JP McManus.
The even-money favourite drew clear before the final fence to beat his own stable companions Tullyhill and Asian Master by six and a half lengths and half a length respectively.
Paul Townend had to work far harder for his success on 7/1 chance Judicieuse Allen in the two-mile five-furlong rated novice chase. The five-year-old saw out the race best of all and nabbed the Tom Gibney-trained 11/4 favourite Kinturk Kalanisi close to the finish to win by a neck.
Danny Mullins came in for the winning ride on his uncle’s Inn At The Park in the near three-mile maiden hurdle. The 6/1 chance led after the second-last hurdle to score by four and a half lengths from Stuart Crawford’s 14/1 shot Ayiko.
Patrick Mullins completed the champion trainer’s four-timer with a taking win on the 11/8 chance Future Prospect in the four-year-old fillies’ bumper. She made all the running and went clear from the furlong pole to win by nine lengths from Martin Brassil’s 9/1 chance Galileo Springs with Gordon Elliott’s 6/5 favourite Swing Davis back in third place.
The Michael Bowe-trained Glen Kiln made much of the running to win the two and a half-mile handicap hurdle at Navan on Sunday. In the trainer’s own colours, the 9/2 chance led from the second hurdle and easily brushed aside the challenge of Finbarr Hand’s Theflyingbee at the last to win by six lengths under Brian Hayes.
Danny Mullins rode Blaze The Way, trained by his mother Mags, to take the three-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle. The 16/1 chance led from the final hurdle to beat Margaret Flynn’s 18/1 shot Toor Khov by three and a quarter lengths for the ownership partnership of Brian Groarke, Tom Groarke and the winning trainer herself.
Patrick Mullins rode his first winner for Gordon Elliott in a little over a year when partnering Kalypso’chance to land the listed bumper. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned 5/4 favourite quickened well inside the final furlong to beat John McConnell’s 3/1 shot Heads Up by four and a half lengths, consolidating his position at the head of the ante-post betting for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Upcoming Fixtures
Friday: Dundalk (4.45pm).
Saturday: Thurles (12.10pm).
Thursday, December 26: Down Royal (11.40am); Leopardstown (12 noon); Limerick (12.25pm).
Friday, December 27: Leopardstown (12.05pm); Limerick (12.19pm).
Saturday, December 28: Leopardstown (12.20pm); Limerick (12.30pm).
Sunday, December 29: Leopardstown (12.10pm); Limerick (12 noon).
Monday, December 30: Punchestown (12.35pm).
Wednesday, January 1: Fairyhouse (12.10pm); Tramore (12 noon).
Saturday, January 4: Cork (12.05pm).
Sunday, January 5: Naas (12.25pm).