Willie Mullins saddled three Grade 1 winners at the Punchestown Festival during the week, and he again landed the feature at Saturday's low key fixture when One Night Out benefitted from a patient ride by David Casey in the RFL Steel Novice Hurdle.
The six-year-old gelding made smooth progress to challenge in the straight, and found enough under pressure on the run-in to hold off Hill Port by three-quarters-of-a-length. 'David gave him a super ride, and said that he idled after hitting the front. We will school him over fences shortly with a view to going chasing next season,' said the Carlow handler.
Willie's father Paddy has his string in fine form at present, and the veteran trainer was again on the mark when Vanilla Man made all under Robert Power in the Kilcullen Hurdle. 'They didn't go a great pace, so Robert decided to make the running. Vanilla Man jumps well, and will be kept on the go over the summer,' said Mullins.
Adrian Lane was seen to good effect aboard Castle Kevin, who just held the late surge of Gli Gli in the opening Blessington Maiden Hurdle. The six-year-old gained a decisive advantage with a giant leap at the final flight, but needed to be driven right out to score by a diminishing head.
'Horses jump and settle well for Adrian, and he has polished up his style in a finish,' said trainer Michael Halford, who described Castle Kevin as a 'staying chaser in the making'.
Halford went on to complete a double in the bumper where Ikdam Melody got up close home under Philip Dempsey to beat Numbersixvalverde by a length.
Evening Scent, successful on the Flat at Clonmel earlier this month to add to four previous wins in Britain, recorded her first victory over jumps in the Carnalway Handicap Hurdle. Paul Moloney took the initiative when shooting the mare into a clear lead three out, and she had enough in reserve in the straight to beat Victor Boy by three lengths.
Alan Magee
