7-up for mighty Mullins

Rathvinden created quite an impression in Downpatrick when winning his bumper by seven lengths in June. Now transferred to Willie Mullins he brought up the champion trainer’s seven-timer on the day when hacking up in Cork’s bumper.

Ian Ferguson formerly trained the five-year-old son of Heron Island, but he was then sold on to Simonsig’s owner Ronnie Bartlett who enlisted Mullins to train him.

He went off 4/5 favourite for this assignment in a winners’ bumper and showed plenty of ability in tanking along in second and quickening away in the final furlong to come in 12 lengths to the good over Flags Pass (12/1).

Jockey Patrick Mullins said: “He had been working very well and I’d say he’s a good horse. He was recommended to us from Ian Ferguson’s in the north. It’s great to have a winner for this owner. I think it’s his first horse with us.

“We were going to go hurdling with him, but he was working so well we went for a winners’ bumper.

“I think five [winners] was our best day before, but seven is definitely our best day!”

The seven winners today comprised four at Punchestown (Faugheen, Felix Yonger record-setting Hurricane Fly and City Slicker and three in Cork (Upsie, Valseur Lido and Rathvinden).

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes