THERE was no feature race on Limerick’s Tuesday card but the Limerick Opportunity (Mares) Maiden Hurdle gave Grand National-winning trainer Martin Brassil a meaningful winner with Walk With Paul.

Ridden by his son Conor Brassil, the seven-year-old daughter of Walk In The Park (11/10 favourite, for owners Mrs Gaffney and Barbara Murphy) made all to beat inferior rivals easily.

Brassil senior, with a proverbial lump in his throat, reported: “She seems to be a nice mare and a good friend of mine, John Hassett (who passed away last January), had her and she came to me like show-room material.

She didn’t run as John wasn’t well and he brought her to a stage, before going into hospital.

“It has stood to her as she has a bit of age and is a fine, strong mare. I didn’t have to do much with her, only get her fit and she knew how to jump when I got her. She is very well-bred. We’ll look for a novice now and if it has blacktype, well and good, but I’d be inclined to stick to two miles and see how we go. She might also settle better in better company and is one to look forward to.”

Traffic problems

Walk With Paul’s 12-length success was equalled half an hour later in the Become A Member @ Limerick Handicap Hurdle by Carbon King (15/8), which also made all, for trainer Declan Queally, his son and jockey of the same name, and the Man About Dog Syndicate.

Carbon King encountered traffic problems when finishing third at Fairyhouse six days earlier and Queally junior revealed: “He had missed the previous week (before Fairyhouse) with a stone bruise so I’d say he improved fitness-wise.”

He added: “I hit traffic as well, so it wasn’t ideal and it was muddling and looked like a flat race.

“He made up for it today and he stays well. His jumping was good, he is a grand horse and I enjoy riding him. He’ll jump a fence in time and I won’t rush him and will mind him.”

CHAMPION trainer Willie Mullins bagged a double, beginning with the Rich Ricci-owned newcomer Paul Marvel (6/4 favourite), under Kieran Callaghan, in the Limerick On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.

It appeared a useful staying effort from the sizeable six-year-old and Callaghan later said: “Plan A and B went out the window straight away with how fast we were going and I was a lot further back than I was hoping. In fairness, how fast we went probably suited him in the end and I’m glad it didn’t turn into a sprint. He is a fine, big horse so there are plenty of options for the future.”

Mullins completed a double in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden, as Captain Cody (5/2) led home a 1-2 for the trainer, by defeating better-fancied stablemate Blizzard Of Oz (1/2 favourite).

Blizzard Of Oz, under Patrick Mullins, had chartered an unusually wide course and at stages veered on to the all-weather exercise gallop while, in contrast, Captain Cody hugged the inside and won readily by six and a half lengths.

Afterwards Captain Cody’s jockey Jody Townend said: “My fellow beat Blizzard Of Oz the last day but Paddy (Mullins) was still quite confident to stick with him. He thought he would come on from it, but I thought my horse would too and was definitely sharper today. He galloe whoto and improved.”

BIGGEST-priced winner of the day was the J.P. McManus-owned Lovely Reaction, at 5/1, in the Support Patrickswell GAA Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old mare was produced to lead in the closing stages by in-form jockey Aidan Kelly, defeating Pidoyne by a length.

Winning trainer Tom Mullins later said: “It definitely wasn’t a great race. They went a big gallop and she stayed on better than the rest of them. I might stretch her out in trip. She’ll go for something similar next. She is a nice mare and hopefully she goes on.”

Cracking little horse

Trainer Gavin Cromwell continued his excellent recent run of form, as late-drifter Pont Audemer (15/8 – 3/1) won the Support Patrickswell GAA Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in great style for owner Thomas Donohoe.

Ridden by Kieren Buckley, the ex-French flat winner scored in the manner of a nicely handicapped horse, defeating Fiery Brown by four and a quarter lengths.

It was Cromwell’s 10th winner in a fortnight and Buckley said: “It was my first time riding the horse, I had ridden him plenty at home and he is a cracking little horse.

“He had won in France but it took him a while to get the hang of things over hurdles. He dropped down in grade today, there were only 10 runners and he has done it very, very nicely. It took a while for him to click, but hopefully can progress.”

Bumper winner

Racing began with the Limerick Racecourse Claiming Hurdle, which was won by the Patrick Foley-trained Youralwaysdreamin (4/1), which subsequently went unclaimed at €12,000. A bumper winner at the course in 2021, the seven year old dug deep here for winning jockey Ricky Doyle, for a length-and-a-half defeat of Bal De Rio.

Foley commented: “It is great to get that and good to have those races for him. He was probably lacking in confidence and, for whatever reason, didn’t seem to be in love with it on his last two runs.

“Today’s race was better than running in a maiden or with top weight in a 0-109 handicap. Michael (O’Dowd, owner) couldn’t be here today as he is at a funeral, but will be happy.”