Mullins treble topped off oh so well by Mt Leinster

Following on from successes for Dont Hesitate and Montalbano earlier under Paul Townend, a Willie Mullins Ballinrobe treble was completed in style by newcomer Mt Leinster in the Cummins Homevalue Hardware INH Flat Race.

Owned and bred by Mullins' wife Jackie, and ridden by their son Patrick, Mt Leinster, a four-year-old son of Ballylinch Stud's Beat Hollow, went off the 9/10 market-leader.

The youngster tracked the leaders on the outer, and he disputed third at the halfway stage.

Mt Leinster then improved to lead three furlongs out, and he soon went clear.

Pushed along over a furlong out, the very promising sort stayed on strongly in the final furlong, to easily account for Dona Katharina and Casamari Abbey by an impressive twenty two lengths.

A nose split the silver and bronze medallists.

"We've been keeping that name for a good horse," said Patrick Mullins.

"It's the mountain overlooking our yard.

"He's a half-brother to Blackstairmountain.  My mother bred him - so she deserves a lot of credit.

"That's what he's been doing at home.  He's a horse with a lot of gears and a lot of ability.

"He's a full brother to Diamond Hill but Blackstairmountain is obviously the star in the family.  This fella might give him competition for that though.

"He jumps well as well - he jumped all the roads there!"

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Bashful Kid trained by Luke Comer, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

(EM)