Mullins doubles up as Man takes the bumper Having earlier come out on the wrong side of a photo finish (Un Hinged beating Raptor), Willie Mullins got the verdict this time round, as his newcomer Well Read Man took the last at Punchestown, the O'Reilly Recruitment (Pro/Am) Bumper, under his son Patrick. Sent to post the 6/4 favourite, the son of Flemensfirth, completed a double for his trainer but did meet with trouble as they entered the straight. Some Tikket under Declan Lavery led as they turned for home but drifted wide momentarily sandwiching the favourite between himself and Our Native Lad. He then ran out around a furlong from home as 20/1 shot Count Brando hit the front after getting a perfect run through on the rails under Pa King. When Mullins Junior switched inside and got a clearer run up the centre of the course his mount responded well under pressure, just getting up on the line to deny Count Brando for his trainer Bill Harney. The front pair went two and a quarter lengths clear of the third, who was the staying on Killshallago at 12/1 for Ger Keane and Jason McKeown. Winning trainer Willie Mullins said afterwards: "I told Luke (winning owner Luke McMahon) that we wouldn’t leave it as late as Uncle Junior (in the same ownership as the winner). "He met with a lot of interference. He is a nice type and being by Presenting we might keep him going and try and find a winners bumper for him as he will handle the ground." After the race Declan Lavery rider of Some Tikket reported to the stewards that his mount hung badly left off the track in the latter stages. Donal Murphy & Gary Carson
