King's Wharf leads Hurry Kitty© Photo Healy Racing
King's Wharf followed-up on his win at Killarney last week, as he took the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase under Niall Kelly.
Successful over flights last Thursday, the Willie Mullins trained grey opened on-course at 3/1 this evening before going off the 9/4 favourite.
Settled behind the leaders he made a mistake at the third, and Kelly did well to keep the partnership intact at the seventh, briefly losing his irons after a mistake at that fence.
The winning son of Clodovil hit the front before the straight, and stayed on well under pressure from the second last, going on to score by three and three parts of a length. Hurry Kitty (8/1) finished second under Donagh Meyler for Liz Doyle, while Curragh Golan (7/2), who won this race last year, was a further eight lengths back in third under Shane Shortall for Garrett Power.
Patrick Mullins said afterwards: "It was a brilliant sit by Niall. He had a winner at Ballinrobe the other night (Graney Town) so he is just hitting form at the right time.
"The penny is only dropping with this horse now. He was a very difficult ride when he came to us, and we had to learn a bit about him. He doesn't go right-handed. It has taken a bit of time for us to learn about him.
"Now that the penny has dropped hopefully he can go on and win another one or two.
"He will mix it between hurdles and fences, and I'd imagine we will find another similar race for him sometime in August.
"John Codd rides him out at home and he has done a great job at making him more manageable
"It was a great sit from Niall and it's great for him to get a bit of a run before Galway. He is a very important part of the staff at home."
