Erlkonig springs surprise in Killarney feature

Erlkonig sprang a 16/1 surprise in the feature at Killarney this evening, the Bunkers Bar And Restaurant Killorglin Handicap Hurdle, scoring under Danny Mullins for his father Tony.

The German import beat the useful Cassells Rock by seven lengths when winning his maiden hurdle at Tipperary in June of 2014 but he had been ultimately disappointing since.

He was leading when he fell two out on his penultimate start at Punchestown but he was well-beaten on his most recent outing at Bellewstown.

Sent off the outsider of the field this evening he raced in rear for much of the contest.

He took closer order as they approached the straight for the final time and he came with his challenge on the outer after the third last.

He hit the front before the next and was soon ridden, keeping on well on the run-in to score by four lengths.

The winner was having his first start over two mile six here having never gone beyond two mile one before. Landau (10/3) just got up to take second under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott while Your Busy (11/2) was a nose back in third under Ruby Walsh for James Nash. Argentino was sent off the 5/2 favourite under Bryan Cooper for Willie Mullins but he could only manage a disappointing sixth.

Tony Mullins, who also owns the winner, said afterwards: "Danny said he stayed well and he'll go for, what I call the Oranmore Dairies Hurdle (now sponsored by Ladbrokes) on the Saturday of Galway - whatever penalty he'll get for winning that should get him into the weights and being small, bottom weight would be a big advantage.

"It was a big step up to two mile six today and I left it to Danny on how to ride him; hopefully he might be as big a price (16/1) again on the Saturday of Galway!"

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards requested a report from Anthony Mullins, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Erlkonig (GER), placed first, as compared with its recent run at Bellewstown. Anthony Mullins reported that his charge took a very heavy fall at Punchestown 3rd June and ran subsequently at Bellewstown 4th July. On that occasion the animal was baulked at the first hurdle and appeared to lack confidence thereafter. He added that this animal usually races with the pace but tonight was ridden at the rear of this small field of runners as the step up in trip to two miles and six furlongs was an unknown territory for him. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes