Fun treble for Willie Mullins at Limerick
Fun Fun Fun ridden by Paul Townend win the Grade 3 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Steeplechase at Limerick. Picture: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins was the dominant force on Sunday’s card in Limerick, sending out a treble which included the feature Grade Three Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase with Fun Fun Fun.
The latter, so impressive on chasing debut but equally disappointing on her subsequent trip to Exeter, was notably strong in the market and justified it with consummate ease. Her jockey, Paul Townend, clearly had no concerns about the three-mile trip as he set off in front aboard the seven-year-old and duly made all the running to get straight back to winning ways.
“As Paul said, it took us a long time to figure out the right trip for her,” said Patrick Mullins. “I think fences let her settle. Over hurdles, she was running too keen, doing too much, whereas more jumps give her a chance to breathe. She's quick at them.
“I’d say, next season, we’ll be working backwards from the Mares’ Chase (at Cheltenham) with her. We didn’t want to go there this year, particularly off the run in Exeter, but I think we can just draw a line through that run.”
Reflecting on the yards treble, he added: “It was a great day. Dick Dowling, our head man, was in charge of the yard when we were all in Cheltenham, so he deserves lots of credit for today.”
Jalila Moriviere was disappointing on her first start for Mullins but there was notable confidence behind her prior to the Party Time Ltd Mares’ Hurdle and she repaid that with a fine performance.
Mark Walsh set out to make all the running aboard the JP McManus-owned six-year-old and she was particularly slick in her jumping, an asset which allowed her to keep her only serious challenger, Mongibello, at bay with considerable ease.
The middle leg of Mullins’ treble came courtesy of the previously frustrating Dr Eggman, who took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle. Winner of a Ballinrobe bumper in May 2023, he had six previous outings over hurdles without managing to get his head in front, but his runner-up finish on his seasonal debut received a nice boost when winner Cardcounter followed up on Saturday afternoon in Navan.
The well-backed Good N’ Kind set out to make all, but Dr Eggman challenged from the home-turn and found that extra close home to earn a belated breakthrough over timber.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Light Up The Dark ensured owner JP McManus topped and tailed the meeting as she produced a stylish display in the listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Champion Bumper.
The four-year-old filly, who won a Naas bumper on her racecourse debut, was perfectly positioned throughout by a confident John Gleeson. He asked his mount to go on with more than a quarter of a mile to go, and she won with something to spare over the patently green but promising newcomer Starting Fifteen.
Siege Ofjadotville, whose dam is a half-sister to Irish Cesarewitch and Morgiana Hurdle winner Iktitaf, made a winning handicap debut in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by promising young jockey Ross Berry, the Martin Hassett-trained five-year-old was under pressure turning for home but picked up strongly in the closing stages to prove too good for favourite The Nagger Reidy.
Linden Arden, who has winning form over hurdles for Willie Mullins and over fences for Michael Bowe, made a most impressive stable debut for Philip Fenton when winning the SIS Handicap Chase in grand style.
Having just his second outing over the larger obstacles, he jumped like an old hand, and when regular rider Brian Hayes sent him on going to the last, he quickened away for a smooth success. On this evidence, he could be the type to pick up a valuable handicap as the season progresses.
There was a real buckle at the finish of the Racing TV Handicap Chase and victory went to the Henry de Bromhead-trained and Rachael Blackmore-ridden Banprionsa.
Kenny Alexander’s mare jumped well all the way but looked as though she may struggle to contain the strong-travelling Invictus Machin.
The latter forged on going to the last but met it wrong, made a bad mistake, and opened the door to Banprionsa, who battled back to shade the verdict by a head, with the gambled-on Whateys Quest six lengths back in third place.
