Mullins Idol wins bumper under Townend

Idol got up close home under Jody Townend to make a winning debut in the Brian Keenan On-Course Bookmaker INH Flat Race at Roscommon.

A daughter of Jukebox Jury, the Willie Mullins trained four-year-old took closer order leaving the back straight before Townend asked her to challenge.

Having got to leader Court Cian Townend had to work hard to fend off My Gaffer who came with a well-timed run under Michael O'Sullivan.

It was only inside the final half furlong that the winner eventually got on top, having had a right tussle with the runner-up.

“She was keen enough but she galloped the whole way to the line and she's tough out,” said Townend.

“If she had settled she would have been even more impressive. I don't know if she'd want it much softer than that but she has that job done anyway.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson