Dynamite gets back to winning ways

Max Dynamite recorded fourth career success as he came home a comfortable winner of the John Lane & Sones Tralee (Q.R) Race.

The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old won the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York in 2015, before going down by just half a length Melbourne Cup on his next start.

The seven-year-old gelding ran just twice last year, but failed to make an impact on either start. He returned to action in the Galway Hurdle earlier this month and finished ninth of twenty there.

Sent off the clear 4/9 favourite this evening he raced mainly in third under Patrick Mullins. He travelled strongly from two furlongs out and was pushed along to lead inside the final furlong, quickly asserting, going on to score by three lengths.

Galway Plate fifth Sandymount Duke (7/2) finished second under Kate Harrington for her mother Jessica, while Silver Concorde was a length and a half back in third.

Patrick Mullins said afterwards: "He's a long way clear of those on ratings. I thought we might go faster and Jamie (Codd, on Ask Susan put me in a bit of a pocket turning in. I was never worried because I knew when I got any bit of a gap that he'd pick up, and that's what he did.

"Once he got to the front he's been quite lairy but I was cantering at all stages and that will do his confidence the power of good. It's difficult for him as he hasn't won for a couple of years, and that should do him the world of good.

"I'd imagine he'll stay on the Flat as he's not a natural hurdler. He could go back hurdling later but he's in the Irish Leger and the Melbourne Cup so we'll see what Willie decides."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee