Magical Mullins steels Navan's opener

Jockey Danny Mullins, on Icantsay stole a march over his rivals in the early stages of the opening Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle at Navan today and in the end scored a never-headed and controversial win on a ‘going day’ for the John Ryan trained winner.

Icantsay who was competing from a 17lbs lower hurdles rating than chase mark (107-124) but had previously been reluctant to race and was slowly away when finishing a distant fifth at Cork.

Today he bounced out to lead and was clear by the second flight. The son of Spadoun, backed from 10/1 this morning in to a 9/2 chance at the off, had established a huge lead by halfway and was almost a furlong ahead of his nine rivals entering the home straight.

In the end, Mullins kept Icantsay going to maintain his clear lead and at the line maintained a ten lengths advantage over runner-up Aa Bee See

The outcome of the race understandably attracted plenty attention and some disquiet, with the Stewards later interviewing the jockeys of the nine beaten horses. Following a lengthy enquiry, the nine beaten jockeys received cautions for their respective rides.

Winning trainer John Ryan was chuffed with the result and was almost in awe of winning jockey Mullins afterwards, and quipped “Danny is brilliant, he's a top-class young man and brings a bit of fun, and everything, to our place - he's my Ruby Walsh!

“He knows all those horses so well and it's a huge advantage. He's done schooling and knows everyone of them. He has a great knowledge of my horses and I knew when he was so far clear he’d know exactly how much he had left; they let him go a little bit too.”

He added “he has a lovely chase mark of 124 and should get in to the Troytown, so I’d say we'll have a go at that; he’ll love the trip as he stays real well.

“He's a different horse all together going left-handed and doesn't even want to start going right-handed.

“He had a nice mark there off 107 (over hurdles) and it was there to be collected at some stage, on a going day.”

Quotes from Gary Carson