WILLIE Mullins was full of praise for conditional jockey Kieran Callaghan after he steered Captain Kangaroo to victory in the Paddy Power Cork Grand National on Sunday. The champion trainer booked the 7lb claimer to ride the high-class Stratum in a conditions hurdle at the Mallow track during the summer after stable jockey Paul Townend was stood down due to injury. However, Stratum was ultimately withdrawn after the raceday stewards ruled Callaghan was not a like for like replacement for Townend, much to Mullins’ annoyance.

The jockey certainly showed what he can do aboard 11/1 shot Captain Kangaroo, who was travelling strongly at the head of affairs rounding the home turn and dug deep on the run-in to see off the challenge of Defi Bleu by two and a quarter lengths.

“The last time I brought this rider down here, they wouldn’t let him ride. He is back and is good enough to replace any rider I have and he proved it there today,” said Mullins.

“Kieran gave him a great spin, the horse was fantastic and did it well. It is great to see him coming back right after such a long time without a win. I think ground and trip are a big help to him and I think we’ll stay handicapping for the time being.”

A seven-year-old by Mastercraftsman, Captain Kangaroo had looked a top-class prospect on his racecourse debut in March 2020, defeating Kilcruit by 10 lengths in a Clonmel bumper in what was the final race run in Ireland before the Covid-19 stoppage. However, he was beaten on his first eight starts over hurdles, including when odds-on on three occasions.

Owned by Kanga Racing and Brett Graham, this was his first win over fences and his first run in a handicap chase. There could be more to come from him over marathon trips.

Payback for Paul

Mullins was completing a double following the success of the Paul Townend-ridden El Barra in the preceding Paddy Power Feel Like A Favourite EBF Novice Chase. Based on his Punchestown Festival success and third placing in the Galway Plate, El Barra (7/4) was entitled to start favourite for this Grade 3 affair but punters marginally preferred the chances of Noel Meade’s Idas Boy (13/8), who had won over the course and distance recently.

There was only half a length between the pair at the line, with the Rich Ricci-owned El Barra just having a class edge over Idas Boy. This was Townend’s first winner since returning from an injury he sustained in a fall from El Barra in the Kerry National. Mullins quipped: “As Paul said, he owed him that after unshipping him in Listowel and it is nice to see him do that. He was untidy at the second-last and I was afraid he might fade out after making the mistake, but he popped up and galloped to the line.

“The Drinmore (at Fairyhouse) is his last race as a novice and I don’t know if he would be good enough but he could go there, although I might find something easier.”

Noting a spot of blood on the horse’s face, Mullins said: “He has bled (at the nostrils) before I think, but he hit that second last fence a fair wallop so maybe it is just a nosebleed, although we’ll check it. He didn’t cut out though.”

Simple task for Cool Survivor

GORDON Elliott matched Willie Mullins with two winners on the card, the more important being Cool Survivor’s success at odds of 8/11 in the Listed Paddy’s Rewards Club EBF Novice Hurdle.

Likely favourite Grand Soir was withdrawn due to the heavy ground and this made the task much simpler for the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Cool Survivor, who had previously won a Punchestown maiden hurdle with ease.

Always in front under Jack Kennedy here, the five-year-old son of Westerner made a couple of errors in this three-mile contest but was always travelling powerfully and scored by two lengths from Pat Doyle’s Granny Lowrie, the pair well clear.

Elliott’s assistant Ian Amond said: “The step up in trip suited and he took the step up in grade in his stride. Obviously the ground is bad enough but Jack said he got through it. He is a nice horse who is going the right way and will have to step up again in grade somewhere down the line. He will be a fine horse for fences but that is a while away yet.”

Clear winner

Elliott teamed up with leading amateur Jamie Codd to land the concluding bumper with 5/2 chance Mollys Mango. A €75,000 Derby Sale purchase for Andy and Gemma Brown of Caldwell Constructon, the four-year-old daughter of Clovis Du Berlais had shown promise when third on her debut last month and ran out a clear winner here from the Ken Budds-trained previous winner Stormalong.

Fresh from saddling his 800th career winner last week, Pat Flynn was on the mark with Walnut Beach in the two-mile handicap hurdle. Owned by Helena Brassil, this consistent five-year-old by Free Eagle was a well-backed 7/2 favourite and scored by almost two lengths under 7lb claimer Gary Noonan, despite running around a bit in front.

Pat Flynn said: “I have a nice few Free Eagles at home and like them. He is a devil on the flat as he is lazy and was having a look around in front today. He’ll go for another handicap hurdle and can go chasing as well.

“I don’t have many jumpers at all for the winter but have some lovely flat horses for next year.”

Note the name: Inothewayurthinkin

GAVIN Cromwell saddled five winners across three meetings last weekend and his haul included two very promising maiden hurdle winners here. Inothewayurthinkin is definitely a name for the notebook, based on his stylish debut success in the opening two-mile contest. For most of the race this looked a formality for the odds-on favourite Lot Of Joy (4/11).

The Swedish St Leger winner looks the sort to take high rank herself this season, but she could not live with the Mark Walsh-ridden Inothewayurthinkin (7/2) when that one swept past at the second last flight.

There was less than two lengths between the pair at the post, and the third-placed Timmy Tuesday (Gordon Elliott) also ran a promising race.

Mark Walsh said of the J.P. McManus-owned and bred winner: “He handled the ground perfectly and, while he had a little look at the first, jumped brilliantly apart from that. I had never sat on him before but had won on three of his four siblings. Judging by that, hopefully he will be the best of them.”

By Walk In The Park, the winner is brother to Limerick Lace and a half-brother to Spades Are Trumps and Ilikedwayurthinkin. La Malmason completed the Cromwell brace in the mares’ maiden hurdle over two and a half miles. Another newcomer by Walk In The Park, she was a €50,000 buy at the Land Rover Sale for Eamon Waters’ Alymer Stud.

Bumper winner

After the 5/1 chance has won by a cosy three-parts of a length from bumper winner Knockanard Lady, winning rider Keith Donoghue said: “We’d have been disappointed if she wasn’t in the first three but behind it all we thought she would win.

“The winning line came in time as I probably got left in front too soon — I’d have been kicking myself if I got caught. It was her first run and she was just looking around. She is a strong traveller on that ground and is nice.”