Gamble landed as Union scores on debut

Patrick Mullins teamed up with his uncle Tony to take the last race of the Killarney July Fesitval, the Christy Lucey Transport Ltd 4yo bumper, with newcomer Union Dues

This French bred son of Malinas was the subject of a major on-course gamble and having opened at 7/1 he was backed all the way into 3/1 favourite at the off.

He was waited with on the outer for much of the race before he closed up on the leaders and travelled well five furlongs from home.

He got on terms with the leaders over four furlongs out and gained a margin lead with two and a half furlongs left to race.

He kicked on from there and was driven out inside the final furlong to record a four and a half-length success.

The Eugene O’Sullivan trained newcomer Theos Well plugged on to take second at 25/1 under Kevin Sheehan while the 7/2 second favourite Sizing Jo’burg was a neck back in third for Henry De Bromhead with David Roche aboard.

Winning trainer Tony Mullins said afterwards: "He might go to Galway now and if he does he will go for a winners bumper."

The win moves Patrick Mullins on to the 19 winner mark for the 2011-12 National Hunt season and he is in second place in the standings five off the leader who is Ruby Walsh.

In the trainers standings Tony Mullins is now on five winners for the campaign, thirty off the leader who is his brother Willie.

(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)