Options open up for Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour made a successful transition to National Hunt racing when taking the two mile maiden hurdle in Tramore for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.

The four-year-old son of Jeremy raced in mid-division before improving into fifth with half a mile to race.

A sweeping run round the outside saw him lead narrowly at the second last.

He jumped the last well and landed full of running before being driven out by Walsh to win by three and a half lengths and justify 5/4 favouritism. He was backed in from 13/8. Papal Motel (10/3) and Leomar at 7/1 took second and third respectively.

Owner Luke McMahon said: "We didn't know if he would stay or not. He was a quick horse on the flat. Eddie (Lynam) didn't want to go on with him so we sent him up to Willie. We said if he got the trip we'd keep going, if not we'd go back on the flat and have a bit of fun with him.

"He is only a pony, he is only a little over fifteen hands high. He has a big heart at the same time. That's as fast as he'd want it. We'll keep him going for the festivals and hopefully we'll have a bit of fun along the way.

"It's not easy to win first time out over hurdles around here when they are going quick. He (Ruby) said he was long at the second last, and he needed a good jump at the last to seal it and he got it. It probably wasn't a great race."

Whiskey Sour won twice on the flat for Eddie Lynam at Naas and Galway.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy