Danny Mullins smiles for the camera as he approaches the line on Fennis Moll© Photo Healy Racing
The well-backed Fennis Moll landed a gamble as she took the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle under Danny Mullins for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon and owner Pauline Twiss.
The daughter of Presenting opened at 7/1 last night but she was well-supported this morning and started on-course at 4's before going off the 7/2 joint-favourite.
Settled in mid-division she travelled well in fifth as they approached the straight for the final time.
She came with her challenge on the outer before the second last and despite hanging left she soon hit the front.
She was ridden after the second last and she kept on well on the run-in to score by four and a quarter lengths. Perrie Hill ran a fine race in first time cheekpieces as he finished second at 8/1 under John Cullen for Noel Dooly, while the other joint-favourite A Decent Excuse (was as short as 15/8 last night) was a further half a length back in third under Eoin O’Sullivan for his father Eugene.
Hanlon, who also had a winner yesterday with It's All An Act, said afterwards: “She did it well. She got killed in Navan the last day. She's in again on Tuesday and might see three quick runs as she's a hardy little thing.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson