De Tour a big Champion Bumper player The former Walter Connors/Pat Doyle 'pointer,' Au Quart De Tour, carried across the promise displayed in his Dromahane win last April, to supply Willie Mullins with a Fairyhouse double in the concluding Oliver Russell Lifetime Services To The Ward Union Hunt (Pro/Am) Flat Race. Patrick Mullins tracked the front-running Strandfield Queen, on the successful Robin Des Champs gelding. He let the 1/2 chance lead over two furlongs out and he asked the five-year-old to go and win his race a furlong and a half out. It was soon apparent that his market-rival, Cogryhill, wouldn't be reeling him in. In the end Susannah Ricci's Au Quart De Tour crossed the line five lengths in front of the staying-on Tuzo, with the aforementioned Cogryhill a neck back in third. Mullins, earlier on the mark with Florishwells D'ete, revealed: "He came to us with a big reputation but was not showing anything until he did a nice bit of work early this week. So to do that off what looked a slow pace, I'm very happy with him. "There seemed to be a number of fancied horses in the race. He should improve now that he's turned a corner. He'll stay in bumpers this season, and will probably have another run before Cheltenham." Boylesports make the five-year-old their 7/1 favourite (from 10/1) for the Champion Bumper. It was similar from Paddy Power who go 8/1 (from 12/1). (AM & EM)
