Early Doors and Patrick Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
There was an impressive winner of the concluding Family Saturday At The Festival INH Flat Race when Joseph O'Brien's Early Doors ran away with the extended two miler under Patrick Mullins at Punchestown.
O'Brien admitted in the aftermath: "He surprised me a bit but we liked him a good bit at home. I was a bit worried about the ground as he's out of a Desert Prince mare but he seemed to handle it well."
The County Kilkenny-based handler's concerns about the heavy surface were brushed aside when the Soldier Of Fortune gelding stretched away from a furlong and a half out to beat one of the joint favourites, Remastered by nine lengths.
"Paddy was very positive about him when he came in," elaborated O'Brien.
"That's his first time off the bridle, and he was impressive. I don't know if we will travel over (to Cheltenham). It may not be the right thing when thinking of the bigger picture, and he could have a good chance in the sales race back in April."
The Stewards fined Lady Jane Gillespie, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Cheval Place in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91.
The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
(AM & EM)
