Mutasarref brings up 24/1 treble for Lyons

Mutasarref completed a near 24/1 treble for trainer Ger Lyons when taking the Hurling For Cancer Is Back On August 16th Race in very decisive fashion at Naas.

The Eleanora Kennedy-owned gelding was recording his third win since joining Glenburnie Stables this season and in truth had little difficulty justifying odds of 2/5 against three rivals.

Colin Keane, who was completing a double on the card, sent the son of Dark Angel to the front over a furlong out and he kept on well to easily account for the front-running San Andreas by three-and-a-half-lengths. Belle Image was held up in rear but could find no extra from well over a furlong and finished a further three lengths back in third.

Jim Bolger generously sponsored the best turned out awards for this race and Mutasarref's groom Archie McCabe also picked up the first prize here worth €500.

The Coolcullen trainer also gave prizes of €300, €200 and €100 to the grooms of the second, third and fourth best turned out horses.

Lyons said, “I was gobsmacked that he qualified for the race (for horses that have not won a weight-for-age race value more than 15,000).

“We have three horses in that race rated over 100 and they qualify for it so we need to keep an eye on prizemoney. We are selling all our good horses.

“We all have to sell to survive but we are losing quality horses like this by doing it as we don’t have the prizemoney. The good horses need to be looked after.

“If the prizemoney is not high enough then in ten years’ time we will have a product not worth looking at.

“This lady (Eleanora Kennedy) loves having fun and coming racing. He’s a great horse for her to own in her first full year in Ireland.

“She’s late to the game. Her husband died in the last three years and she’s loving racing.”

Lyons was on the mark earlier on the card with juvenile Apricot Twist who made an impressive debut, and Listed winner Pirate Jenny