Layde Back Forward Enough for Thurles Bumper

Very much bred to be a stayer, Willie Mullins' Layde Back put the stamina in his pedigree to good use in the two and a quarter mile Curaheen (Pro/Am) Flat Race, proving two and a half lengths too strong for his only serious market-rival, Ball Of Blue

Howryafeelin, Howrwenow, Red Moppet, Howrwedoin and State In Emergency are siblings of Layde Back, who have all scored 'between the flags' whilst the dam, Maythefifth was also successful in that sphere.

Mullins' post race comments on the winner, ridden by his son, Patrick, were not surprising then. He said: "I'm delighted with that. This horse is a stayer in the making, he'll improve a lot for the run and we'll go jumping with him straight away. He'll make a chaser in time but we'll start him off over hurdles."

Successful owner, Hugh McCann is a dentist from Northern Ireland. (EM)