Cross country to two year old win for Mullins!

Trainer Willie Mullins completed one of the most unusual across-the-card doubles imaginable, at Dundalk this evening, when his Levanto added a two year old Flat maiden to Uncle Junior's earlier win in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham.

Levanto, ridden by Johnny Murtagh and competing in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden (Div 1), landed a substantial gamble (7/2 in the morning into 7/4f) when running out the length and a quarter winner from Rapid Approach Opera Gloves a Sheikh Mohammed owned newcomer, was a big eye catcher having lost considerable ground at the start before flying home for a never nearer third place.

Mullins, whose Uncle Junior won the 3m7f Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase under his son Patrick Mullins, was represented at Dundalk by Gary Davis who subsequently stated “Levanto will probably have a break now until the spring. Johnny was very happy with her and he said she is a very straightforward and uncomplicated filly to ride.

Levanto was Mullins' second juvenile Flat winner of 2012.

Further reporting by Alan Magee