Poignant win in bumper for Patrick Mullins Kate Appleby Shoes, runner-up on three of her four previous starts, made absolutely no mistake today as she ran away with the concluding Ronan Lawlor Memorial Flat Race at Gowran Park this afternoon. It was a treble on the card for champion trainer Willie Mullins, following the earlier victories of Whiteout and Champagne Fever. Patrick Mullins had the daughter of Flemensfirth to the fore throughout and she had her rivals struggling on the top bend. Mullins junior asked his mount to stretch in the straight and she galloped on strongly to record a 34-length verdict over Goaheadmakemyday. The race was named in honour of Ronan Lawlor, who was tragically killed in a fall on Pat Fahy's gallops just under five years ago. It was a poignant winner for Patrick Mullins who was a close friend of Lawlor's. "I'm delighted," said Willie Mullins. "Ronan was one of Patrick's best pals when they were growing up. "Obviously this mare likes testing ground. We might try and win a winners bumper and go over hurdles next season. She's progressing." (Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
