Passage Vendome puts in a massive jump at the last under Emmet Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Passage Vendome recorded his third career success as he took the www.angloprinters.ie Hurdle for Willie Mullins with his nephew Emmet in the saddle.
The French bred 6yo son of Polish Summer won his bumper at Tramore last August before winning his maiden hurdle on his third attempt at Punchestown in May.
Since winning his maiden hurdle he finished second and fourth respectively in novice hurdles but he disappointed last time out when finishing a well beaten third went sent off the 11/10 favourite at Ballinrobe behind Audrelles Lad After chasing the leaders early on he was fifth before the straight and then came with his challenge and got on terms before the second last.
He hit the front before the last and stayed on well under pressure on the run-in to score by two and three parts of a length at the odds of 11/4 (was 9/2 this morning).
The 2/1 favourite Distant Memories attempted to make all under Paul Townend for Tom Taaffe but he could offer no more when headed by the winner while Prince Of Fire finished a further half a length back in third at 9/1 for Charlie Swan and David Casey.
Winning rider Emmet Mullins said afterwards: "I kept wide as there seems to be the best ground out there. I went on the inside in the first race and Andrew McNamara kept on the outside and won.
"He had loads left at the finish. Last time out he just couldn’t handle the heavier, gluey ground."
(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)
