Ground makes all the difference for Champagne

With no bumper on the card at Fairyhouse many of the country's top amateur riders took part in the Corkracecourse.ie bumper over 2m 3f with Ireland's Champion amateur rider for the last four seasons Patrick Mullins coming out on top aboard Champagne Agent who is trained by his father Willie.

The 6yo son of Smadoun was having his sixth run in bumper company this afternoon and his first on good ground having started off at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival of 2010 where he finished second to Star Neuville.

He put in three more good efforts in bumpers before disappointing at Navan last time out and was subsequently sent off at 9/2 this afternoon.

Having raced up with the pace the winner cruised into the straight in third and hit the front at the two furlong pole.

However the Eoin Griffin trained Realt Den Cathair (9/1) under Mark Enright stuck with him, with the winner only gaining the upper hand as they raced inside the final furlong.

The 5/2 favourite Busty Brown for Pat Fahey with his son Conor aboard flew home at the finish but it was too late as the line came just in time for the winner who scored by three parts of a length from the favourite back in second with Realt Den Cathair a further neck back in third at 9/1.

Winning rider Patrick Mullins said afterwards: "The ground made all difference. He always showed us plenty at home and his only bad run was the last day.

"The ground brought about the improvement today and he will go hurdling now and be kept on the go over the summer.

"His owner John Fallon owned Rule Supreme as well and while this fellow won’t be as good as him he should still have plenty of fun with him.

"Today is the first day John wasn’t here to see him run and he is banned from now on!"

The winner is a half-brother to six time winner That’s Rhythm who was trained by Sally Duckett and was also placed in Listed company over fences. (DM & TW)