IT was a case of mission accomplished, admittedly a day later than expected for the Willie Mullins-trained Outlander in last Sunday’s Grade 2 Shannon Airport Novice Chase at Limerick after the two mile three furlong contest was added to the card after its original slot on the opening day fell foul of the weather.

Having taken the scalp of one of his four rivals, Free Expression, at Punchestown last month the Gigginstown House Stud-owned 1/2 favourite proved that was no fluke when making it two from two over fences in the capable hands of the trainer’s nephew David Mullins.

The six-year-old was close to the pace throughout and stalked his stable-companion Avant Tout before the entrance to the straight. Wound up to deliver his challenge on the run to the last the hot pot put the race to bed halfway up the run-in for a one and three-quarters of a length win, his seventh in total.

The successful jockey said on his return: “It was straightforward enough – he’s not a flashy horse and he jumps well and stays well. He handled the ground (officially heavy) well and I’d say when it’s a more competitive race, maybe over three miles he could be an RSA horse. I think he’s going to be better on better ground.”

The younger Mullins had earlier been seen to good effect with his handling of Rebel Turn who set up a double for him in the Goggin Buckley Handicap Hurdle. Owned by the four-member Simply The Best Syndicate from Cork this recent Tramore scorer relished the underfoot conditions and found more under a strong drive to gain the upper hand in the final 50 yards and wrest the verdict by a length from Monasteradenpauric.

Burke was on duty at Leopardstown but the 9/2 winner’s rider stated: “He’s a future chaser and whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus.” Misdflight headed the betting here but his trainer/rider Denis Hogan reported that he found little in the straight in the ground.

Rookie Clonroche trainer Barry Murphy saddled his first winner from only his third runner when Pairofbrowneyes came good for the Fibbage Syndicate in the €50,000 Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase.

Mikey Fogarty’s mount led over the sixth last and, with market leader Killer Crow coming under pressure with two fences remaining the eventual 11/2 scorer had sufficient in hand to contain the danger by four and a quarter lengths.

Murphy, who only received his licence 10 days earlier and has 25 horses riding out, acknowledged: “It’s a nice way to start. He’s a very progressive horse and we fancied him strongly. His work at home was very good and he’s been schooling very well.”

A BRACE OF WINNERS

Doneraile trainer John Joe Walsh’s record at Limerick speaks for itself and the evergreen maestro recorded a brace of winners, kicking off by sending out Positive Approach for a decisive half length victory in the ‘David Fitzgerald – Take It Easee’ Maiden Hurdle, a race in which the short-priced favourite River Run never travelled and made mistakes throughout.

Owned and bred by Tommy Tynan from Mullingar the 6/1 chance headed Figurative in the closing stages under Philip Enright, with the hot pot River Run a spent force between the final two flights back in fifth place.

Positive Approach’s trainer said: “He loved the ground and he stays. Philip knew the horse and gave him a good ride. He had the bit of experience and staying is his game.”

Stable-companion Marygale Bridge followed up for Walsh in the Roches Feeds Mares Maiden Hurdle when digging deep for Brian O’Connell to withstand the determined challenge of the favourite Myztique by a neck.

The 16/1 shot carries the colours of Eddie Stack from Athea and “today was the day,” according to her handler. Walsh reflected: “She loved the ground and won a point-to-point bumper at Cork so she had a bit of form. She ran third here last year and she got a great ride from Brian. I suppose she’ll go handicapping now.”

Kris Weld’s Show Court was a warm order to supplement last month’s course and distance win with further success in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Limerick Rated Novice Hurdle but he came under pressure before the penultimate flight and was eased at the finish in last place. Kevin Sexton, who was aboard the 4/6 favourite, reported that his mount did not jump well or appreciate the ground.

On a day of doubles the spoils here went to the Charles Byrnes-bred and trained 5/4 chance Rosie Alice who rounded off a good day for Philip Enright when delivering by four lengths for the Byrnesy Boys Syndicate. The jockey commented: “She had form on the ground and, being a Beneficial probably handled it better than the rest.”

Black Ice, representing the trainer and jockey partnership of Seamus Fahey and Shane Butler, took the honours in the BRC McMahon Reinforcements 80-102 Handicap Hurdle when left with the race at his mercy by the fall of market leader Lake Field who was a length and a half up on his rival when coming a cropper at the last.

Nevertheless Fahey, who was successful with the well-supported 8/1 chance at the Christmas Festival two years ago, was of the opinion that his charge was not done with at the time, commenting: “We had a bit of luck on our side but he might have won either way.

“He’ll probably go to Tramore now for a two mile handicap, a race he was third in last year.” Black Ice was winning his second race for his joint owners Kirsty Hickey from Kildangan and the trainer’s wife Bernie.

There was plenty of confidence behind Jim Culloty’s Ballindensisk winner It Came To Pass in the Earl of Harrington Memorial Maiden Hunters Chase and the well-backed 5/2 favourite duly obliged in the hands of Brian Linehan, registering his second track winner, when taking it up before the last and going away to beat the long time leader Gullivar by 15 lengths. Only four horses finished the race.

Culloty, who was at Leopardstown where Spring Heeled took his chance in the Paddy Power Chase, trains It Came To Pass for Dr Ronan Lambe.