Double for Mullins as Gentil wins on debut

After winning the previous contest with Blixt Willie Mullins quickly doubled-up with newcomer Sois Gentil in the concluding Munster (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

The French-bred son of Montmartre was bought for E13,000 as a three-year-old, and was expected to deliver this evening, going off the 4/6 favourite for the Supreme Horse Racing Club.

Settled in mid-division by Patrick Mullins, the bay five-year-old travelled best entering the straight, and was ridden to challenge the leader with a furlong and a half to race.

He got to the front inside the final furlong, and stayed on best in the closing stages to win by a length and a half. All Good Things who was the 2/1 second favourite, filled the runner-up spot under Katie Walsh for James Nash, while Nash also saddled Still Busy (25/1) who was thirteen lengths back in third with Cathal Landers aboard.

The winning rider said afterwards: "He wasn't expensive as a E13,000 three-year-old and I think the ground is the key to him as he looks a real good ground horse.

"We went a very fast gallop which suited him and he settled great but was green across the top. There's probably more to come from him.

"He's quite tall and narrow and maybe as he gets stronger he could handle soft but we'll make hay while the sun is out. He'll need to improve to win a winners' bumper but I think he is the type who will improve."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards fined Kieran Purcell, trainer, E350 for lodging a passport in respect of The Cow Man in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.

The Stewards fined James M. Barcoe, trainer, E350 for lodging a passport in respect of By The Barrow in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.

The Stewards interviewed Mr J.P. Berry, rider of Artic Quest concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr J.P. Berry was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency and therefore cautioned him having taken his clean previous record into consideration.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes