McKay's win boosts Mullinses' prospects

Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Bumper prospects were harmed with the news of his Getabird’s injury earlier today but the Champion Trainer typically bounced back with another contender at Naas today as Carter McKay easily landed the concluding Cavan Developments (Pro-Am) INH Bumper, under his son Patrick Mullins.

Dual bumper winner Getaway’s absence was the latest injury to hit the Closutton handler but Carter McKay’s exciting win did improve his Festival prospects.

Mullins, locked in a Trainers’ Championship tussle with Gordon Elliott, later stated “he’s improved since Christmas and did a lovely bit of work during the week. He’s one we’re looking forward to and is going to have to step in now.

“He’s improving away all the time so hopefully he keeps doing that.”

When asked if he had booked his ticket to Cheltenham, he quipped “I thought he had it booked at Christmas anyway but I’m very pleased with that.”

Jockey Patrick Mullins is himself in a battle with Elliott’s stable amateur jockey Jamie Codd for the Amateur Jockeys’ Championship, which he first won in the 2007/08 season. This season is the first time the nine-times Champion’s position has been serious threatened and Carter McKay’s win moves him one behind Codd, 26-25.

Carter McKay is a fictional character, played by George Kennedy, who appeared in television series Dallas.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson