N'golo and Paul Townend (centre) jump the last upsides Wajaaha (near side) and Malone Road © Photo Healy Racing
Just four lined up for the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle but it produced a thrilling three-way finish with N’golo (10/3) just coming out on top for Paul Townend.
Willie Mullins’ grey, a winner at Galway before running poorly at Kilbeggan, made the running but looked in trouble when joined on either side by Wajaaha and the odds-on Malone Road facing up to two out.
The Galileo gelding rallied well to get back in front on the run-in, thwarting Wajaaha (13/2) by half a length with Malone Road (2/5), after a costly mistake at the last, losing his unbeaten run in third, just a further nose behind the runner-up.
The winning rider said: He was probably fortunate that Jack's lad (Jack Kennedy on Malone Road) let him down at the last but they are there to be jumped and he left behind a disappointing run the last day.
“We left Kilbeggan scratching our heads a bit but that was a bit more like it today. He'll have to build on it but at least he left the run behind him the last day.”
Winning trainer Willie Mullins later commented: “I was very happy with him, he put his bad run behind him. He'll stay further and to do that on that ground I was very happy that he might be making a bit of progress.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
