WILLIE Mullins struck an ominous chord ahead of the Galway Festival as he held sway at this fixture with a treble which included a commanding victory for Authorized Art in the beginners’ chase over just short of two and a half miles.

A very useful hurdler on his day, the Nicholas Peacock-owned gelding finished second to Tullybeg on his chasing debut at Kilbeggan last month and built on that with a nice display.

The 4/6 favourite jumped well throughout for Paul Townend, who had him racing on the pace, and he was holding Indigo Breeze when that one exited at the second last when several lengths adrift.

This left Authorized Art with just the last fence to negotiate and he did so with relish to finish with 17 lengths to spare.

“He enjoys jumping fences and the experience of his first run stood to him. When novices jump like he does it’s a big advantage. Fences have sweetened up and we couldn’t be happier with him,” stated the winning rider.

Townend also struck aboard the trainer’s Mi Lighthouse (6/1) in the two-and-three-quarter-mile novice chase.

Improving mare

The Four Mile House Partnership-owned mare was stepping up in grade after scoring at Tramore early last month and looks an improving sort, on this evidence.

From the turn-in, she seemed to have the duelling pair of Siberian Prince and Tullybeg covered and she took charge in between the last two fences before holding the first-named’s late rally by a neck.

The 6/5 favourite Chinx Of Light departed at the last fence with a circuit to run.

“She warmed up to it well, she flew the second last and had a good look around after landing in front over the last. I thought she was idling but when the other horse came, she was pulling out again. The step up in trip with the step up in grade helped her today,” stated the rider.

Earlier, the Mullins-trained Dads Lad and Brian Hayes captured the extended two-and-a-quarter-mile beginners’ chase for horses rated 116 or less over hurdles.

The Whitegrass Racing Syndicate-owned gelding faced an easier assignment than when running respectably behind Champagne Gold on his chasing debut at Wexford at the start of the month and won nicely.

The 7/2 came through to take the lead with two to jump and quickly opened up a yawning advantage which saw him reach the line with six and a half lengths to spare. “We were happy with his last run in a hot enough race at Wexford where he made a bad mistake three out and he was down in grade tonight.

“Other than one mistake he was perfect and he was spring heeled off the good ground,” remarked Hayes.

DANNY Mullins’ tactical acumen was a feature of the evening with the rider’s bold decision to chart a notably wide course in a couple of handicap chases yielding a double.

The rider’s first winner came for the in-form John Ryan whose Cluan Dara (25/1 earlier in the day before being returned at 11/2) defeated stablemate Father Jedd in the 0-109 rated Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.

The Bitview Partnership-owned 10-year-old launched a charge on the outer on the approach to the straight and he was showing in front before the second last. At this stage the Ryan-trained duo had the race to themselves and despite idling on the run-in, Cluan Dara was always doing enough to record the fifth win of is career.

Family favourites

“The horses are flying and it’s great to have a one-two with two family favourites. He got a very canny ride from Danny and I’d say they might have gone a bit quick up front. I also have to give a lot of credit to my daughter Gillian who does such a great job with these horses,” stated Ryan.

Mullins added to his tally aboard another well-backed winner in Shark Hanlon’s Balinaboola Steel (10/1-9/2) in the two-and-three-quarter-mile handicap chase. A four-time winner over hurdles, the Seamus Tobin-owned winner made a similar move to that of Cluan Dara on the wide outside facing up to the last two fences. The 10-year-old was brave at the last and he got home by three and a quarter lengths from the favourite, Pairc Na Ngael.

Henry shows the Way

ALSO enjoying a good run is Henry de Bromhead who made it five winners in seven days as Brave Way availed of a gilt edged opportunity in the mares’ beginners’ chase over two and three-quarter miles.

The Kenny Alexander-owned 4/9 favourite was looking to build on second place finishes at Kilbeggan and Perth and it was all looking ominous for her rivals when Rachael Blackmore moved her into the to the straight. She deftly negotiated the last two fences to come home nine lengths ahead of the 66/1 chance Gonedairy.

“She isn’t the biggest mare and took a bit of time to warm up. Rachael really got her jumping the second time around,” declared the trainer.

The evening concluded with a winner for trainer Seamus Neville as Brideswell Lad (8/1) defied joint top-weight under J.J. Slevin in the handicap chase.