Gods are smiling on Mullins' Spirit in Clonmel repeat

Although she needed plenty of good fortune to just get a run in the race let alone win, Dazzling Spirit found everything falling just right as she repeated last years win in the St. Patrick's Well Handicap at Clonmel.

Only third reserve this morning, the Thomas Mullins trained five-year-old needed three to come out in order to get a run. The gods certainly smiled on her in that respect with four non-runners prior to post time.

Partnered once again by last year's winning rider Jamie Powell, Dazzling Spirit made rapid headway on the run into the straight, kicking clear of her rivals over two furlongs out. The well supported Special Protector stayed on strongly from out of the pack to finish second with Plunkett Street back in third.

Winning trainer Thomas Mullins added: "Mine are running in-and-out and I was disappointed with her the last day in Killarney but the handicapper dropped her 4lb and this race was coming up.

"She was third-reserve and only got in late in the morning at 10.00am, after we had her given her a little blow-out. She is as fit as a flee though and being a slow starter, we gave her a jump (from stalls) before coming racing at 12pm and it helped.

"She got out well today but then ran away with the rider and I thought that was curtains!

"She has got a cut today so will miss a couple of weeks."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.