Black Hercules gives Mullins another big day

“I would have been absolutely gutted if he had been beaten,” jockey Patrick Mullins said about Black Hercules who brought up a Punchestown double for his trainer father Willie Mullins.

“I’d say he wasn’t that impressive. He got his hind legs knocked taking the bend. He’ll want further in time, but I’m very fond of him.

“He may lack a gear compared to Shaneshill, but he’ll improve with time.”

He went off 4/7 favourite on this his first racecourse appearance in a bumper. On the point-to-point circuit he won at Dromahane by six lengths in April.

Patrick Mullins made all on the four-year-old son of Heron Island and coming to the final furlong had Cillian’s Return (10/1) and Princely Conn (20/1) in behind him.

That pair couldn’t close the gap and the former went down by two and a half lengths. Princely Conn was beaten another three and three quarter lengths in third.

Newcomer Therealmick slipped up in the home straight around a furlong and a half from home when racing in fifth place.

In addition to Arvika Ligeonniere and Black Hercules winning at Punchestown, Willie Mullins was also on the mark in Cork today with Rathvinden and Twinlight

Additional reporting by Alan Magee