Sun sets on Navan’s big weekend

Ballyburn’s half-sister Churchfield Sunset (7/1) gained invaluable ‘black-type’ at Navan today, landed the concluding Listed Coolmore N.H. Sires Hurricane Lane Irish EBF Mares Bumper under an enterprising ride from jockey John Gleeson

A €25,000 foal purchase by Clarina, Co Limerick-based owner Conor O’Brien, the Wings Of Eagles-filly is her dam’s 14th foal and is a half-sibling to smart performers Noble Endeavor and Minella Daddy while another one - Ballyburn, was last season’s outstanding novice hurdler.

Today Churchfield Sunset made most of the running and while rivals raced wide, jockey Gleeson elected to go his own way, completing the shortest route but on poached ground. While strongly pressed in the home straight, Churchfield Sunset eventually got the better of Mummy Derry and Swing Davis in the final furlong.

On an ‘away’ weekend fixture for Carlow’s Mullins clans, Churchfield Sunset’s trainer Emmet Mullins reported “fair play to John (Gleeson) as it was his call to go down the inside and I was happy to support him with whatever he thought was best. I'd say that was a huge help to her so he deserves a lot of credit.

“She is cracking filly with a brilliant attitude: she's as game and always has been. She is improving all the time but it is just attitude. She has a great determination and is a real lovely filly.”

He added “she did pick up an injury in Roscommon on the good ground as we were trying to figure her out at the time. We were trying to look after her with a bit of nicer ground, but I would say she is a filly for slower ground. The (half) brother (Ballyburn) doesn't mind it.

"Fingers crossed, she could go on to better things, with her pedigree and everything, it was about coming here and getting the black-type.”

Quotes from Michael Graham