WILLIE Mullins and his nephew Danny joined forces for a graded race double which featured a fifth victory in succession for the champion trainer in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase where Acapella Bourgeois showed just what he can do when everything falls into place.

On his day the victorious Slaneyville Syndicate-owned 10-year-old is a supremely talented sort which he showed with a 15-length triumph over this extended three miles.

For much of the race the 15/8 shot was tracked by the favourite Alpha Des Obeaux and the latter threatened for a period entering the final mile. However, it was all one way traffic from before the turn in as Acapella Bourgeois powered clear to defeat his stablemate Bellshill with a further head back to the market leader.

“The ground is testing and these conditions suited him very well,” said the trainer. “We’ll look at either the English or Irish Grand National with him and I’d say maybe we are leaning towards Liverpool with him at this stage.

“I was happier with Bellshill today. Maybe he could come back for the Irish National or else we could keep him for the Punchestown Gold Cup.”

Juveniles

Mullins had run just two juveniles all season coming into the Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle but he unleashed four new faces for this Grade 3 and was rewarded with a one-three-four which was led home by Burning Victory (7/1).

The Danny Mullins-ridden filly, who contested a Chantilly Group 3 on her latest start last summer, is evidently quite a prospect. The daughter of Nathaniel turned in a decidedly mixed round of jumping towards the rear of the field but made good progress to get into the thick of the action in the straight and overcame a clumsy jump at the last to defeat the staying on 40/1 shot Great Bear by two and a half lengths.

“She didn’t jump particularly well but she obviously has a lot of natural ability,” reported Mullins who trains the winner for Audrey Turley. “I’ll talk to the owners about the Triumph and we’ll see how she comes out of this. The mares’ Grade 1 novice hurdle over two and a half miles back here at Easter is another option that would make a lot of sense.”

Treble

Ferny Hollow brought up a treble for Mullins with a facile success in the Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. This Cheveley Park Stud-owned son of Westerner began his career with a pair of odds-on defeats but showed major promise on both occasions and a marked change in tactics enabled him to show his best.

In a first-time hood and in contrast to his first two runs, the 4/11 favourite was dropped in before cruising through on the bridle to lead inside the last couple of furlongs. Patrick Mullins could afford to sit motionless as his mount sauntered to a four-and-a-half-length triumph over On Eagles Wings.

He is now firmly in the reckoning for the Cheltenham Bumper for which he appeals as a likely contender.

Pottsie finds his true vocation in chasing

SIZING Pottsie (4/6) looks to have found his true calling on the evidence of his dominant display in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase over an extended two miles.

This six-year-old, who tried his hand over hurdles on just three occasions, made all the running to defeat Dakota Moirette by 15 lengths. The son of Kapgarde carries the colours of Ann & Alan Potts Limited.

“Two miles on that ground is his trip and I’d say we might look at a two-mile novice handicap chase back here at Easter for him.

“He’s a grand horse and should improve on better ground,” commented Jessica Harrington.

Some 200 days after winning his maiden hurdle at Roscommon, the Noel Meade-trained Ificudiwud (8/1) made a victorious return in the Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding came across the favourite Moyode Gold inside the last 150 yards of this two-and-a-half-mile race which necessitated a stewards’ enquiry.

As expected Eoin Walsh’s mount was allowed to keep his one-and-three-quarter-length victory.

Hogan’s success acrosss the codes

DENIS Hogan, who sent out Sceptical to win at Dundalk the previous evening, followed up with Funky Dady in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

A €6,700 purchase as a three-year-old, this gelding had been progressing with every run on the track and he was returned a well-backed 6/1 chance to build on a third to Aione in another auction maiden at Gowran Park last month.

The winner picked up well for Paul Cawley to take several lengths out of his rivals between the last two flights although the rallying Barnaviddaun had whittled away the deficit to three-quarters of a length at the finish. Funky Dady carries the colours of the Final Reminder Syndicate.

Claimer

An industrious season for 7lb claimer Simon Torrens continued as Birdie Blitz gave him his ninth success of the campaign in the 80-102 rated handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. Aidan Howard’s charge looked held when Hell On Earth moved on in the closing stages but she stuck to her task splendidly and forced her way back to the front in the closing strides. The J.P. McManus-owned winner was justifying 100/30 favouritism following her creditable third in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park last month.

Surfing Tenor enquiry

A STEWARDS’ enquiry was held into the running and riding of Surfing Tenor in the maiden hurdle won by Funky Dady resulted in jockey Conor McNamara being hit with a 10-day ban and the horse was suspended from racing for 42 days.

In his evidence to the stewards trainer Gavin Cromwell stated that McNamara had ridden to instructions but that he was not satisfied with how his charge was ridden in the closing stages of the race as McNamara could clearly have put his mount in the race more.

The stewards found the rider to be in breach of Rule 212 A (ii) in that he had not made a genuine attempt to obtain from his mount timely, real and substantial efforts to achieve the best possible placing.