"You'd like to be riding him in a Thyestes some day, he's that sort of horse - he's a three mile chase, it's just written all over him," said David Mullins after winning the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Gowran on The Big Dog (evens favourite).

Peter Fahey 's charge guessed and stepped at the last, but that was the only concern backers of the Mahler gelding had, and he eventually accounted for Voix Des Tiep (11/4) by six lengths. Chavi Artist trained by Mullins' father Tom, finished third, a length and a half back, as a 100/1 chance.

For Pat Fahy and Patrick Mullins Kalum River had plenty of supporters. Those that backed him from 8/1 into 11/2 will have been disappointed with his fourth place finish.

Paddy Power go 40/1 first show about The Big Dog for the Albert Bartlett and Mullins elaborated: “He's a nice horse. He did everything right the last day in a good race and today the race sort of fell apart on the soft ground and he was just left on his own.

“He's a lot better than he showed there. Normally he'd come up and wing the last but he was on his own, no company, and he didn't get to show it today. At least he's won and he's done it well.

“Peter really fancied and the owners were fairly sure of it as well. It's great to get it for them and great to start this day off well."

At the request of the Stewards, N. Bashford, rider of On Call trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount momentarily ran close to the rail causing him to check.

D.N. Russell, rider of Rakhine State trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got very tired.

B.J. Cooper, rider of Amerijano trained by Paul Nolan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake and was pulled up thereafter.

(GC & EM)