Cross-country double for Mullins as Dorrells impresses

Former trainer Pat Doyle was high in his praise for Dorrells Pierji after he won his point to point, and the post race assessment was similar from current handler Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend after the 4/7 shot's Listowel win.

Making it three-in-a-row after two bumpers successes, the successful Coastal Path gelding powered away in the straight to beat Thosedaysaregone by fourteen lengths in the John J. Galvin Maiden Hurdle.

Mullins was of course on the mark cross-channel in the Group Two Doncaster Cup with a 1-2 - Thomas Hobson beating Max Dynamite.

Said Townend after Dorrells Pierji's win: "His form was good coming in — it was solid. We think he's improving away. I'd say he's not a bad sort and you'll hear plenty of him.

"It's very easy to ride for him to be fair to Willie. We thought a lot of the horse and the worst thing you can do is to complicate it on them.

"He won a point-to-point so we knew he stayed and I was impressed with him there to be honest."

For his part Mullins explained: "We had planned in running in him in the bumper tomorrow but we're running another two mares instead and we let him take his chance today.

"I thought he was a decent horse but that performance looked very very good. He pulled too hard early on and Paul did his best to settle him and then when he was in front he got a little breather into him.

"When he turned for home he gave him a squeeze and he opened up and he looks like a really nice staying hurdler in the making."

Mr J.J. Codd, rider of Take Revenge trained by Martin Brassil, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled on the ground.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Thosedaysaregone, trained by C.Byrnes, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be (report to follow).

(TW & EM)