Bachelor at the head of affairs

Bachelor Affair appreciated the good ground conditions when making all under Tommy Treacy in the featured Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The 16/1 chance dug deep when faced with a number of challengers in the straight, and kept on well on the run-in to beat Clarach (9/2) by two and a half lengths with Chebona Bula (14/1) another three quarters of a length adrift in third.

Winning trainer Gerard Mullins said: “We have been waiting on that good ground for a while. It's the first time he's had his ground all season. He'll probably go to Galway now, and may go back for a chase at some stage as he's well handicapped over fences. He earns his oats every year.”

Goresbridge-based Mullins trains the nine-year-old gelding for his neighbours the Greene family.

Alan Magee