Aubrey McMahon registered a first winner in two years at Punchestown today as the 7lbs claimer made a winning return to race-riding on the Willie Mullins trained Eurotiep in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Bumper.

McMahon, a dual winner of the Connaught Hotel Amateur Handicap at the Galway races, was previously successful in November 2018 and today returned to race-riding for the first time since February when steering Eurotiep to a length and a half win over Pale Blue Dot

McMahon's father and prominent owner Luke McMahon is a member of the winning Down The Hatch Syndicate, and following the race jockey McMahon stated “he's a horse with a big stride. Patrick (Mullins) rode him the last day, I couldn't ride him as I was injured, and he ran well to finish second.

“Patrick just felt he was a bit keen during the race and if he'd had another go he would have just let him gallop on.

“He went to the start today free enough so I just said I'd let him gallop away and he just keeps on galloping. That's his game.”

Eurotiep had been withdrawn 'by order of the stewards' from a Limerick bumper on November 17, three days prior to trainer Mullins being served a two-week racecourse suspension (which is due to expire on December 18) for breaching Covid-protocols.

Quotes from Gary Carson