David Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
The concluding Coral.ie Bet & Watch Beginners Chase at Punchestown today was reduced to a ‘match’ as jockey David Mullins completed a double on the Henry De Bromhead trained Some Plan which beat sole rival Art Of Payroll
In truth most of the action took place prior to the actual race, with three of the five declared runners taken out for various reasons. Diamond King was not qualified having won his own beginners’ chase at Galway yesterday, Lucky Pat was reported stiff while General Principle was a late defection due to the drying ground.
The race itself saw Some Plan make all to beat Art Of Payroll, who was unable to close on the leader in the home straight, with seven lengths eventually separating the pair.
De Bromhead later stated “I’ve had him since July and he’s a 145 rated hurdler who jumps well and strikes me as a chasing type.
“It is no mean feat to jump around here at the first attempt, and he has a few options now where to go next - we could look at England as well which would suit the owner (Roger Brookhouse).”
Grand National winner David Mullins is the latest Mullins to win a Punchestown 'match', following on from his uncle Tony Mullins' historic win on Dawn Run in the organised 1986 match with Buck House.
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
