SALVATOR Mundi was certainly the class act on this seven-race National Hunt card and proved the point in devastating fashion with a bloodless 62-length victory at the prohibitive odds of 1/12 in the Tipperary Town Maiden Hurdle.

The son of No Risk At All was snapped up by Willie Mullins for Joe and Marie Donnelly after finishing second to Sir Gino on his only French start and was thrown in the deep end on his first outing for current connections when sixth to stablemate Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle.

It was much calmer waters here for the hooded gelding who soon built up a huge lead and maintained the gallop for a facile win from Mrs Tk.

Loves jumping

“It was as easy as it looked. He loves jumping and coming out of France he has plenty of it done,” said a beaming Paul Townend. “He was doing nice work before Cheltenham but it was a big ask for him to go there on the back of no run for us.

“He has a good level of ability and that’s obvious with his form with Sir Gino. I don’t know what the plan is, whether he keeps going or they leave him out now and bring him back.”

The raceday stewards wished to interview all the other riders in the race as it appeared the winner was given an unassailable lead but due to the absence of analysed sectional timing, they referred the entire matter to a “senior racing official” for further investigation.

Work harder

Ballygunner Castle completed a first and last race double for the champion trainer in the Racing Again May 28th Flat Race, although the easy-to-back 7/4 favourite had to work a lot harder under Mullins’ son Patrick when making most and driven right out to beat Aruntothequeen by half-a-length.

“I couldn’t get him to go fast enough in front. He’s not a quick horse and this is a tight track, so he’s done well to win in the circumstances,” said the champion amateur.

“He has a beautiful pedigree but it’s all three miles and he looks like a staying chaser in time.

“He’s going on his holidays now and I think there is a lot to look forward to.”

The five-year-old is owned in partnership by John Brennan and David Flynn.

ROCKSTOWN Girl overcame an absence of nearly six months when taking the Tipperaryraces.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle in the hands of James O’Sullivan.

The daughter of Iffraaj, Grade 2-placed in bumpers, was prominent throughout and kept on well from before the last to beat the staying on Mi Lucky Cailin by three lengths.

“She hit the first hurdle in Thurles the last day and her race was over as she got a bad fright so we gave her a break after that,” said Anthony McCann who trains the 5/1 winner for a Limerick-based syndicate.

“James said she took a blow turning in and had plenty left in the tank. She should have a good campaign now for the summer.”

Toor Khov justified support (20/1 overnight and returned at 7/1) in the other maiden hurdle on the card over three miles.

The Sholokhov gelding had been placed both in bumpers and over hurdles and appreciated this stamina test when staying on well under Liam Quinlan to beat Pray Tell by a length and a quarter.

“I took him out on Saturday because the ground was too quick in Mallow. The step up in trip suited and he’s very honest,” said Mags Flynn, who trains the winner for owner/breeder James Nash.

“That ground is on the easy side of good and even a bit slower would do. It will all depend on the ground if we keep going with him.”

THE Niffler was a popular local winner for Eamonn O’Connell in division one of the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.

The grey gelding bridged a gap of over two years without a win when scoring at Naas last month and showed a good attitude here under Keith Donoghue to hold off Red Glory by a neck.

“It took us a while to get him back but we have him now. He was a bit unlucky the last day and didn’t see the horse down the inside. If the ground stays safe then he’ll run again,” said O’Connell who trains the 13/2 winner for his wife Abby and Ken Mullen.

Edged out

There was also a thrilling finish in division two where Farrokh recorded a 22/1 surprise when Michael O’Sullivan’s mount just edged out Smallcraftwarning by a short-head. “It was bottomless ground in Limerick the last day so we said we’d wait until we got a bit of nicer ground and put a pair of cheekpieces on. There is a fair bit going on up in his head and I think they helped him to concentrate,” said owner/trainer Barry Connell.

“He’ll tip away for the summer. His jumping was very good today, very slick, and you’d like to think he’ll jump a fence at some stage.”

Danny Gilligan successfully deputised for Jordan Gainford, sidelined after a fall at Killarney, aboard Solly Attwell in the three-mile Tipperary Races On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.

The 6/1 shot got on top on the run-in to beat My Friend The Wind by two and a quarter lengths and owner/trainer Cian Collins commented: “He’s very consistent and has been going up in the handicap so it’s nice to get it done there and Danny gave him a great ride.

“He’s very versatile ground wise and he was recommended to me by Peter Flood. He’s going to be a better chaser than a hurdler and will keep going for the summer.”