Immediate Response enroute to victory in the 2m6f handicap hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
Immediate Response put some gloss on what was an otherwise frustrating afternoon for the Willie Mullins yard when taking the two and three quarter miles Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap Hurdle in very convincing fashion.
The lightly-raced gelding, raised 17lb in future handicaps for a facile victory at Clonmel last week but racing here with just a 4lb mandatory penalty, was sent off the red-hot 4/9 favourite.
Patrick Mullins elected to make all on the nine-year-old and, after momentarily appearing set for a battle with Owennacurra Milan (8/1) early in the straight, he quickly settled the issue before the last and went on to score by 11 lengths.
Willie Mullins simply stated that the winner “will go for another handicap”, while the successful Kates Monkeys Syndicate are a group of student pals of the winning rider.
