THE penultimate fixture of the year at Kilbeggan was one to remember for Navan-based trainer Finbarr Hand who sent out his first winner for six years when Mister Melia recorded an impressive success in the two-and-a-quarter-mile bumper. Declan Lavery was on board this Morozov gelding , who was picked up for just €4,000 as a foal, and Mister Melia had shown ability on his only previous outing when taking sixth in a Ballinrobe bumper in April.

Mister Melia attracted some support over the course of the day and he wasn’t ignored at 12/1 in the betting, although his performance was much more in keeping with that of an odds-on chance.

He led well over a quarter of a mile from home and only needed to be pushed out for a resounding eight-and-a-half-length success over the twice-placed Shanwalla.

Patrick Mullins, who won the last at Killarney earlier in the day, had to settle for third on the favourite Blue Jacaranda after making it to the track on time for this mount. Sadly though it transpired that Mister Melia, who pulled up lame after the race, had suffered a hairline fracture of his cannon bone which will necessitate a very lengthy period on the sidelines. This was a cruel blow for Hand, who is a sheep farmer, as this was his first winner back since he renewed his training licence.

Mullins brothers on the mark

Brothers Willie, Tom and Tony Mullins were all successful on this card and the first-named supplied an impressive winner in Little Nugget in the two-and-a-quarter-mile mares’ novice hurdle.

The Paul Townend-ridden daughter of Daylami was returned at 1/3 to deal with her two overmatched rivals and made the running en route to an easy 23-length triumph. This effort followed a good second at Galway for the Sunny Day Syndicate-owned six-year-old who will be well worth her place at blacktype level later this autumn.

An overdue first success over hurdles came the way of the Tom Mullins-trained Tara Dylan in the opening maiden hurdle. This Dylan Thomas mare, who is owned by the trainer’s wife Helen and was ridden by their son David, had failed to win in 18 previous outings over timber. She had run some good races in defeat though and, after signalling that she was working her way back to form last time, the 7/4 shot was an assured seven-and-a-half-length winner over Marine One.

Tony Mullins also supplied a ready winner in Josephina in the Racing TV-sponsored handicap hurdle over two miles. The 5/2 chance had to deal with a 7lb hike for scoring at Tramore the previous week and she did so with aplomb under Sean O’Keeffe.

The Mullins-owned six-year-old defeated No Way Jack by nine and a half lengths and could easily strike again given the form that she is in at present.

Patrick Mullins unsaddles Stratum after their win and rushes off to catch a helicopter to ride in the bumper in Kilbeggan later on \ Healy Racing