Enterprising Mullins ride see Brave home in front

Under an enterprising Patrick Mullins ride, Follow The Brave justified favouritism in the last at Ballinrobe this evening, the On-Course Bookmakers INH Flat Race.

A disappointing tenth of 23 on debut at the Punchestown Festival, a much better showing was expected from the Willie Mullins trained gelding today.

As big as 7/2 earlier, the five-year-old eventually went off the 13/8 favourite in the colours of owner Nicholas Peacock.

Settled in mid-division, he soon furrowed a lone path on the wide outside but did edge nearer to his rivals on the bends.

Much closer to the pace with six furlongs to race, he came with his challenge on the approach to the straight and was soon ridden to lead.

He quickly put the race to bed from the furlong pole, stretching clear in the closing stages to score by six lengths. Duncreevan who drifted from 15/8 to 5/2 on-course, finished second under Joey Dunne for Gavin Cromwell, while newcomer Kathleen Gold (40/1) was another twelve lengths back in third.

"He was a little bit disappointing in Punchestown but he's come forward from that. It looked a competitive race today but he settled great and loved that nice ground," the winning rider revealed.

"I think he'll continue to improve. He's still quite a baby.

"He has a lovely pedigree and it's great to get a winner for Nick Peacock in the Wicklow Brave silks, which is obviously where the name comes from. He'll hardly be as good as him but I think he'll give Nick plenty of sport."

The French bred victor is from the family of Fuisse and For Fun, with both successful at the highest level.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan