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Donal Murphy
Just For Love completes Mullins treble
Just For Love and Patrick Mullins pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing
Newcomer Just For Love completed a Galway treble for Willie Mullins, as she justified strong market support in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.
Available at 6/5 in early shows, the Niall Glynn-owned bay eventually went off the clear market leader at 4/9.
Settled behind the leaders on the outer by Patrick Mullins, the Affinsea four-year-old travelled best on the approach to the straight and was pushed along to lead over a furlong from home.
Soon pressed by fellow debutant Final Escape she kept on best when ridden in the closing stages, coming home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good.
The aforementioned Final Escape (10/1) had to settle for second under Tom Hamilton for Mags Mullins, while Theflyingbee (9/2) was another three-and-a-half lengths back in third.
"She has a superb pedigree from the O'Neill's (who stand Affinisea) and Niall (Glynn) emailed me out of the blue 18 months ago and said he had a nice filly. He got her broken, pre-trained and had all that base foundation work done," the winning rider revealed.
"She has plenty of ability and whether or not we give her a break now, I'm not sure. I'm not sure if she is a heavy-ground type, but could be one for the spring."
Niall Glynn, who is from Lusmagh Co Offaly, added: "I bought her a couple of years ago, initially the plan was to have her as a broodmare but I then contacted Patrick about potentially getting her into training. Patrick gave me a plan to get her broken at 2 and into pre-training, so I sent her to Sonny Carey and George Webb to be broken/pre-trained before she joined Closutton earlier this year."
"I've been involved in horses before but this is my first winner and is the first one to run in my own colours."
Willie Mullins was earlier on the mark with Alvaniy in the opener and Winter Fog in the feature.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes