WILLIE Mullins kicked off the day with an impressive winner as Champ Kiely returned from 14 months off to dominate the Tote Always SP Or Better At Galway Maiden Hurdle over two-miles, five-furlongs.

A winner of a Limerick bumper when he was last seen in action, the Margaret Masterson-owned six-year-old took well to this discipline and was in front for Paul Townend with over a circuit to run.

From the second last onwards, Champ Kiely turned on the style as he maintained a relentless tempo to draw further and further clear of the field, eventually defeating Esperti by 21 lengths with the favourite Dawn Rising a further length back in third.

“He looks a smart type and I think that was a good effort to beat the favourite (Dawn Rising), a 102-rated flat horse, by 21 lengths,” declared Mullins.

“I was hoping he’d win but didn’t think he’d do anything like that, and he has moved up a few places amongst our novice hurdlers for this season.”

Mullins and Townend promptly followed up with the smart Rock Road in the Tote-sponsored handicap hurdle over an extended two and three-quarter miles.

The 10-year-old, who has won three of his six starts for Mullins over the last two years, has already bagged this season’s Mayo National and this effort would suggest good prizes are within his grasp.

Toiling

The 4/1 chance left his rivals toiling in vain from the second last as he quickly opened up a yawning lead which resulted in a resounding six-and-a-half-length victory over Shoot First. Rock Road is owned by English-based Simon Wilson’s Bowes Lodge Stables Partnership.

“He did that very well and we were hoping he could win if he translated his chase form back to hurdles.

“He’s in the Grade B BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle here on Saturday but we’ll just have to see how he comes out of this,” stated the trainer.

Mullins then made it a treble as the 28/1 shot Dads Lad gave jockey Ruth Dudfield her first winner in just under three years in the Tote-sponsored amateur riders’ maiden over a mile and a half.

The trainer’s fifth winner of this race in the last six years, the Whitegrass Racing Syndicate-owned gelding was showing notable versatility in lifting this prize a week after landing a beginners’ chase at Limerick.

In a tightly contested finale, Dads Lad came between horses to lead inside the last furlong and stuck to his task in willing fashion to score by a length and a quarter.

“It surprised me to see him entered for it, as Patrick (Mullins) had him put in for a day out for the syndicate,” said Mullins. “It’s fantastic for Liam Cullinan and his syndicate (Whitegrass Racing) and for Ruth Dudfield, who came in for the ride which Patrick organised. Ruth is with us for a couple of years and gets on great with this horse at home.”

O’Brien hits net with Sir Antonino

AFTER a near miss in the Plate with Darasso, Joseph O’Brien got amongst the winners when Sir Antonino (8/1) captured the Play The Tote Exacta On Every Race Handicap over a mile.

This Galileo colt, who is owned by Spanish international soccer player Alvaro Odriozola Arzallus, came back to form to win a Limerick maiden recently and took a step forward in this useful three-year-old-only prize.

After racing on the pace Sir Antonino fought hard for Declan McDonogh in the straight to see off Mister Wilson and then Inchiquin Star, and he got to the line half a length in front of the staying-on Smooth Tom.

The winning rider picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts.

“I got to know Alvaro through social media, we have been in touch for a couple of years and he had horses in Spain previously. He comes over when he gets some time off, stays with us for a couple of days and we’ve had horses for him for a few years,” reported O’Brien.

“He enjoys seeing his horses and the stallions in Ireland. We’re good friends, and he has a couple of two- years-olds in training also.

“This horse took a couple of runs to get the hang of things and Declan was strong on him. I think he enjoys a little bit of juice in the ground, it is great to win again and I think he will stay further.”

Peter Fahey produced Outback Flyer in great shape off a three-month break to land the Free Jackpot All Customers At Tote.ie Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles.

The patiently ridden 11/1 chance was travelling notably well on the outer for Kevin Sexton on the approach to the second last where she produced a bold jump to dispute the lead with Tullypole Annie.

The latter took plenty of subduing but on the run-in Outback Flyer gained the upper hand to prevail by three and a quarter lengths for her owner-breeder Jonathan Deacon.

“After she won her maiden hurdle at Wexford we aimed her for Punchestown but things didn’t go right there so I said to the owner, Johnny, that we’d leave her off and aim for Galway,” stated Fahey.

“She’s a strong traveller and things are coming together now and she’s finishing better in her races. Hopefully she’ll keep progressing in handicap hurdles.”

Memorable run

The day concluded with a 33/1 winner as Scenic Look continued a memorable run for trainer Adrian Murray in the 50-80 rated Tote-sponsored handicap over an extended two miles.

Seamie Heffernan stole a march on the field when moving his mount into a useful lead nearing the turn-in and the Thomas Keane-owned and -bred daughter of Workforce held on bravely to deny the five-timer-chasing Unanswered by a diminishing neck.

The runner-up’s rider, Billy Lee, picked up a two-day whip ban.

“She has been banging on the door and today was the day. She is a very tough mare and has had a lot of racing but keeps pulling out more every time she runs.

“We might bring her back for a maiden hurdle on Saturday,” commented Murray, who has sent out five winners from his last 14 runners.

Attendance

2022: 16073

2019: 16634

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2022: 707973

2021: 213748