Mr McNiff doubles-up with Mulliner

Mr Mulliner kept on strongly to claim the Guinness Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, providing his trainer Mark McNiff with a double at his local track.

The son of Millenary was 10/1 last night with Paddy Power but went off at just 9/2 under Conor Maxwell.

The six-year-old gelding was previously trained by Gerard Quirk and was making his debut for McNiff today.

Settled towards rear he was under pressure in tenth after the third last. He was a moderate ninth after the next and made a bad mistake at the last when sixth.

He quickly regained his composure after that error and flew home down the outer, getting up to prevail by three parts of a length.

Jack Kennedy was just denied his first ever treble as Holeinthewall Bar (7/1), who looked set to score after the last, had to settle for second while Roman Numeral was a further two lengths back in third at 12/1. Theturnofthesun was sent off the 9/4 favourite and he finished a disappointing eighth.

Conor Maxwell said afterwards: "He's quirky. He was going nowhere going out on the last circuit but the more horses he passed the more he kept going. Every horse he passed the more he battled, and I thought he'd a chance going to the last."

McNiff had earlier won the fifth with Urban Dusk who was also well-backed. The six-year-old gelding was 20/1 last night but went off at just 8's.

The double came in at just over 48/1.

STEWARDS REPORTS

R.P. Treacy, rider of Willow Grange trained by John Patrick Ryan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Theturnofthesun, trained by Matthew J. Smith, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be Post Race Normal.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee