WILLIE Mullins mopped up all of the feature races on Easter Sunday as the champion trainer registered five wins with Melon’s Grade 3 Baroneracing.com Chase Cork feature-race win adding to a Fairyhouse four-timer.

At the southern track last year’s Grand National winner Minella Times, under Rachael Blackmore, was making a quick reappearance having exited at the ninth fence in this year’s renewal eight days ago, but failed to keep pace with front-runner Melon (1/1 favourite), who won easily.

Doctor Duffy filled second place while Minella Times was well held in third.

Melon’s jockey Bryan Cooper commented: “It is great for the horse and great to get a winner in these colours (Joe Donnelly).

“He got into a rhythm and really enjoyed it and this track seemed to suit him as there is a lot of jumping. He jumped fantastic and I was able to boss the race.

“He accelerated, I was always confident and it was a great bit of placing by Willie. These races take winning and he has won two races this year off his rating and it is not easy to place him. I enjoyed it to be honest and it is great to win on him.”

Big prize

The Liz Doyle-trained Bois De Clamart (5/1) bagged another big prize when winning the €45,000 Grade B Baroneracing.com Handicap Hurdle, for jockey Richie Deegan and the BD Partners Partnership.

The eight-year-old was following up another Grade B fences win at Gowran in March and made use of a lower hurdles rating of 125 when winning well from Happy Jacky.

Doyle said afterwards: “I have been following the weather, with hurdles and chases and I told Richie ‘do not come off the left-hand rail’ and he was excellent. It saved four or five lengths and you really have to go wide at Cork when it gets chewed.

“He was won three €40,000 races for us this year and has been a great horse. He doesn’t get too high over his fences but he might jump well around a Topham (Chase at Aintree) where they only have to flick through them a bit and don’t have to get too high.

“He has great owners, one is in America, one is a Yorkshireman and I’m really pleased for them.”

Grade 3 hurdle winner Grand Paradis (15/8) got off the mark at the sixth attempt over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase as Gordon Elliott’s runner left behind a pulled up effort at Cheltenham last month to win by two and three-quarter lengths under jockey Jordan Gainford.

The winner carries the colours of Caldwell Construction Ltd and following the race Gainford stated: “Everything happened a bit quick for him at Cheltenham but he had been banging on the door previously and was caught by some nice horses. It was my first time riding him today and it was nice to get his head in front.

“He jumped well, travelled and loved being in front. Getting his head in front today will be of benefit.”

Dancer has some spring in his step

RACING began with the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle as 4/11 favourite Prairie Dancer scored easily for trainer Joseph O’Brien, jockey J.J. Slevin and owners Sean Sweeney and Kieran O’Hare.

Afterwards the trainer’s assistant Brendan Powell said: “He deserved to win on ratings and ran well at Cheltenham. J.J. (Slevin) said he had a look at the stables on the bend but said he jumped lovely apart from getting in close to one.

“He quickened up well and did it nicely and had to in that company. Looking in the paddock there were a lot of ‘future horses’ but he had the experience off the flat and it was a nice race to find.

“He’ll probably mix it during the summer and he is owned by a great bunch of guys who went to Cheltenham with him for the week.”

Locally trained Copper Nation was a popular winner of the O’Flynn Motors Mallow (Mares) Maiden Hurdle, scoring for trainer Donal Coffey and jockey Daragh Allen.

The daughter of Westerner was adding to a point-to-point and bumper win.

Following her 15-length success Seamus Coffey, representing his father, said: “It was a very impressive win and he gave her a great ride. There’s a mares’ listed hurdle in Killarney for her next.

“She is there or thereabouts every day and is a good mare who is from a great family. She has won a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle now.”

Irascible battles for Blackmore

ON a day when Grand National winner Minella Times was beaten, trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore combined to win the Baroneracing.com Hurdle with the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Irascible (4/1), who beat Cash Back by a neck, despite being off the bridle for much of the way but a good jump at the last aided his cause.

Afterwards Blackmore said: “He is quite a lazy horse but has some lovely form back along and it is great to see him get his head in front. I think when he sees a fence he will improve again. It was very wet out there and is loose ground.”

J.P. McManus’ Sir Bob (15/2) gained an overdue second racecourse win in the Velvet Cap Handicap Hurdle, scoring trainer Robert Tyner and jockey Philip Enright.

Jockey Enright later commented: “He is a frustrating horse and it is only his second win ever. He loved the conditions and jumped great and it was one of those days if you handle the conditions, it is worth a lot to you.

“I didn’t even look back and didn’t hear anything coming so didn’t have to panic.”

First winner

The concluding Jim Ryan Services Bumper was won by Hartur D’arc (100/30, for owner Derek Kierans who provided jockey Declan Lavery with a first winner for trainer Tom Gibney.

Lavery had steered the French-bred gelding to win a point-to-point at Loughanmore last October and following today’s race said: “He did it well and is a very good horse.

“It didn’t really go to plan up the straight - I wanted to stay out but had to switched in on the worse of the ground. It took him a while to get going but he pulled up like a fresh horse. It didn’t take much out of him and he will come on from the run.

“I rode him to win his point to point for Paddy Turley so it was good to keep the ride on him and it’s my first winner for Tom (Gibney) - Tom fancied him today.”