Backmersackme makes winning start for Mullins & Byrne

Backmersackme ridden by John Gleeson, justified 8/15 favouritism in the Pegus Horse Feed Point-To-Point Flat Race.

A point-to-point winner for Michael Griffin in November before being acquired by owner Paul Byrne, the Getaway gelding was brought from mid-division to lead over a furlong out and kept on well to beat Custom Taylor by three and three quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Emmet Mullins said: "John said there was plenty of pace so he was good and patient and delivered him with a well timed run and it was straightforward.

"I was taken by his win in the point-to-point as he was the only one from the group to bridge the gap and galloped through the line, and did the same today. John said he was very green today and should come on again from it.

"He isn't the biggest, might get an entry in a winners' bumper at Punchestown and then possibly could run in a maiden hurdle in the summer."

Regarding another potential well-established sale route from Byrne to J.P. McManus, Mullins quipped "they can't buy them all unfortunately but, fingers crossed, I think we did good business in buying him."

Quotes from Tom Weekes