WILLIE Mullins’ Kappa Jy Pyke (2/9 favourite) capitalised on the withdrawal of champion chaser and stablemate Il Etait Temps to win the Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday, the feature race of Clonmel’s season.

The race has seen many top-class horses make seasonal reappearances and, while Il Etait Temps was a high-profile non-runner due to unsuitably fast ground, stablemate Kappa Jy Pyke was an able replacement, scoring comfortably under stable jockey Paul Townend.

The winner concluded with bold leaps at the final two fences, before beating Herja by a length and three-quarters, while Blaze The Way finished last of three.

Mullins’ son Patrick Mullins reported: “Kappa Jy Pyke is a top-class horse and the Clonmel Oil is a prestigious race, worth a lot of money so it is brilliant for the owners Michele and Richard (Varmen), who are from England and this is their only horse.

“They hacked around, sprinted up the straight and any mistake at the last two fences would have meant ‘curtains’, but he was brave and jumped very well. He didn’t get a hard race, so it is job done. He can be versatile trip-wise going forward.”

He added “Il Etait Temps came down today, but Paul walked around and felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

“Having two top-class horses taking each other on would mean that they would be racing harder, so there is that side to it as well. At this stage of the season, is there any point in taking a chance so, if you’re in doubt, pull out.”

Snow White collects again

The champion trainer also withdrew long-odds-on morning-favourite Dinoblue from the Listed T.A. Morris Memorial EBF Mares Chase, with victory instead going to another Mullins camp, the Mags Mullins-trained, Danny Mullins-partnered A Snow White Park (8/11 favourite).

The five-year-old mare made all the running and held on well to score by two and a quarter lengths from Bynx.

Afterwards, Mags Mullins stated: “She is a dinger over a fence and, while she isn’t a giant, she is plenty big enough and is plucky out. I’m delighted with her.

“Everyone said that we were home and hosed, but it’s not as easy as that as you still have to go out and do it. Danny was delighted with her and it is great for her owners, Molly and Paul Willis, and Jimmy Fyffe, who is new.”

TRAINER Emmet Mullins was another of his family to secure a success, landing the Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle with J’Arrive De L’est (8/1).

Ridden by Alan O’Sullivan, the seven-year-old made most of the running and eventually scored by two and a half lengths from Hopeful Hero.

Mullins reported: “It’s good to win with him, he ran well early doors when he came to us in the cross-country races and then he lost his way, we never quite put our finger on why. I gave him a break and he’s come back in a better order.

“It wasn’t exactly the plan coming down here to make the running, but Alan said there was no pace and I gave him free rein and he was very good.

“More than likely, he’ll go to Cheltenham for the cross-country in December and hopefully there could be some even bigger days ahead with this fella.

“Martin Gowing is from the UK, is a good supporter of Mikey Bowen and bought a few horses before Cheltenham last year.

“This is his first horse with us, so it is great to get off to a winning note.”

Local luck

Local owner Sean Dalton enjoyed success in the Red Mills EBF Auction & Median Sires Maiden Hurdle with Rokanako (10/11 favourite), who scored for jockey Michael Kenneally and trainer Eddie Power. Despite jumping untidily and to his left, Rokanako ran out a comfortable three and a quarter lengths winner, from 300/1 chance Le Vent D’ex.

Power reported: “Sean (Dalton) is a Tipperary man, so would get more enjoyment out of today than he would at Champions Day in Leopardstown.

“He likes these bigger meetings and I train his horses to give him as good an experience as possible. To be fair, with what we have, we have been getting a fair run out of them and we’re going well.”

Regarding Rokananko, he added: “He deserves that as he has good form in winners’ bumpers. He is a brilliant jumper at home, you wouldn’t get better, but when something is just letting him down a small bit on the racetrack. Today he gave away a lot of ground jumping. He is a better-ground horse, so we might give him a little break now and see what way the winter is.”

GORDON Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud were on the mark in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, scoring with the Josh Williamson-partnered Unflinching (11/8).

Midtown Manhattan, the 5/4 favourite, led for much of the race, but having hung left and raced keenly, ran out before the home turn. Unflinching was then left in the lead, and battled well for a two-and-a-quarter-length win over Blue Johnl.

Williamson said: “He had the from having finished behind King Rasko Grey last season, but it was a tricky race to ride in as Henry’s (de Bromhead’s Midtown Manhattan) went off so quick and I was flat out for most of the race.

“The leader was nearly on the outside wing coming down the hill, so there was no other choice but to stay to the inside. I’m sure he’ll improve a bit from this, but was fairly straight coming here today.”

Shinnick earns praise

The Prior Park Service Station Handicap Chase, was won by the owners Tim and Michael Murray’s home-bred Courtbrack Boy (9/1), with winning rider John Shinnick later receiving praise from successful trainer Terence O’Brien.

The winner made all the running and scored by five and a half lengths from Zolpharine, with O’Brien commenting: “He is a bit of a quirky guy, is difficult to handle and takes a bit of riding but has been a great servant.

“He got his own way today, so it suited, and Johnny gave him a grand ride. He’ll mix it away and still has a nice mark over hurdles, so he’ll mix it away over the winter, as he is okay on soft ground too.

“He is owner-bred by Tim Murray from Courtbrack, so it is great for him.”

Close finish

The concluding //racingtv.com/freetrial INH Bumper was won in dramatic style, as Mhi Milani (14/1) flew home to head leader Red Seagull (2/1 favourite) in the closing stages, to score for trainer Pat Foley and jockey Joey Dunne.

Held up in rear, Mhi Milani had plenty of ground to make up in fourth place a furlong out, but powered home for a neck success.

Foley said: “Joey gave him a peach of a ride. He had been keen at Bellewstown, but they went so fast today, that he didn’t travel. Joey said he just left him alone, to run well, but that he flew home.

“He shows plenty of gears at home, is a nice horse and Joey said he was good enough for a winners’ bumper, so we’ll see whether to go hurdling now or not.

“I’m delighted for his owner Leo McCormack, as his son Liam is our yard sponsor, with his company LMC Siteworks. He is a very loyal owner and has four horses with us.”