IN much the same way as he dominated the corresponding card in 2022, Willie Mullins registered a treble at this Tramore Saturday fixture, initiated in the opener with the classy Heia (2/7f).

Attacking her obstacles with relish, Kenny Alexander’s six-year-old forged on from before two out to beat Butterflyvespiere by six lengths in the Dunhill Mares Beginners Chase.

A fourth win in a row in this two-mile contest for Mullins, the useful handicap hurdler was the subject of positive post-race remarks from rider Paul Townend.

He said: “She jumped really well and every time I asked her, she was there for me. She has taken to fences really well since the first day we tried her over them. She was like a little motorbike around here today. I’d imagine she’ll be kept going for the summer.”

Straight from her bumper third placing debut 167 days earlier, Katou gave Mullins and Townend their second success of the evening in the Visit West Waterford Maiden Hurdle.

Again it may not have been completely without flaw in the jumping department, but Katou was well up to providing an important win for her owner/breeder Terry Conroy.

Mullins also had Rule The Wind, the third placer, in this 13-runner affair. She was a long way back though, as favourite The Folkes Tiara (11/8) and the victor, battled it out up front.

It was close in the betting, and so it proved mostly on the track as well with Katou (7/4) edging things at the last. She eventually went on to triumph by three and three quarter lengths.

Keen

“I won’t say she behaved herself, she was very keen,” reported Townend. “She jumped very well but missed the second last and did well to pull out more again after being as hard on herself as she was.”

Another owner/breeder was on the mark to bring up the Mullins hat-trick in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) INH Flat Race, with Vadsa Queen back from a 368-day absence to score for Eamonn Phelan.

The market was an excellent guide in the night cap with Vadsa Queen (7/4 favourite) accounting for well-touted newcomer Royal Hollow by eight and a half lengths.

“Going down the dip I just gave her a clip and off she went,” commented winning rider Charlie Mullins.

AN imposing son of Dansant, Elegant Dan (22/1 from 33s early) was a poignant winner of the Pickardstown Handicap Chase.

Previously in the colours of Denis Tarrant, who passed away last year, the 10-year-old now represents the Fastey For Fun Syndicate.

On what was his handicap debut over fences, the David O’Brien-trained chesnut was settled behind the leaders by J.J. Slevin.

He joined the front-running Rudy Catrail on the approach to two out and pulled away from that rival after he made a mistake at the last, with a length and a half between them at the line.

“He lost his way and had a few niggly problems,” O’Brien revealed. “I wasn’t overly confident because I was disappointed with his first run back at Limerick, but he just seems to have improved from it.”

Owned and bred by Tom Meagher, Thunder had a much easier time of it in the Copper Coast Maiden Hurdle, making all under a clever Danny Mullins ride.

Opting to take a wide path throughout and in a clear lead from the second, the 13/2 chance (14s early) was kept up to his work in the closing stages, ultimately coming home 11 lengths to the good.

In a parade ring preview prior to racing, Mullins gave the John Ryan-trained five-year-old a favourable mention and the popular Kilkenny pilot was enthusiastically greeted by many punters upon returning to the winner’s enclosure.

“Danny gave him a wonderful ride,” Ryan said. “He is a big galloping horse and Tramore is a small place, so I was happy to let Danny stride away.

“Tom, who is a cousin of mine, is selling his sister at the Derby Sale and she is the first lot.”