Ballygunner Castle powered clear in the closing stages to run out an impressive winner of the concluding bumper at Limerick tonight for Willie Mullins and Jody Townend.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding had been a promising third on his debut at Thurles in February but was easy to back at 5/4 this evening having been as short as 4/7. Olympy De Cerisy went off 11/10 favourite to continue a good night for Declan Queally and made a bold bid from the front in the two-mile-three contest.

He was reeled in by Ballygunner Castle in the straight however and Townend's mount asserted inside the final furlong to post a comprehensive nine-length victory.

Townend said:- "I ended up getting there too soon but I wasn't sure how long Ray (Barron, on leader Olympy De Cerisy) would keep going and when he got running coming down the hill I left him carry me into it.

"If fairness when I gave him a slap he quickened up, he is a big galloper and will be a lovely horse over jumps."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)