Mullins hotpot turned over by Rothwell's roughie

The Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle looked at the mercy of Willie Mullins' Cheltenham bumper fourth Sounds Victorius but the 2/5 (from 1/4 before the off) favourite was turned over by 40/1 rules debutant Rockymountainbleu  

Trained by Philip Rothwell for William Yorke, the Quest For Peace gelding had been picked up for just 2,000 Euro as a three-year-old and had been runner-up at his trainer's local point-to-point in Tinahely just over a year ago.

Held up in touch, the six-year-old moved into third entering the straight and challenged between The Diddler and the short-priced market leader approaching the final flight. In front after the last, he went away to beat Sounds Victorius by four and a half lengths. 

Winning rider Tiernan Power Roche said: “He had a good run in a point-to-point. He was entered in a couple of bumpers but ground and different things didn't suit. 

“His work was good and we were expecting him to run well. For an auction maiden there were bits of form there, especially with Willie's horse.

“He was good in the end. He has a bit of turn of foot, a bit of speed to him.”  

Quotes from Gary Carson