Impulsive Dancer skates home for Townend

Willie Mullins' Impulsive Dancer marked himself out as a smart sort when taking the Listed bumper in Limerick by a healthy margin.

He raced close to stablemate, and 1/4 favourite, Mercurey on the downhill run to the final four furlongs.

The Dragon Pulse gelding swung into the lead straightening for home and had the long odds-on favourite in trouble a furlong and a half out.

He asserted at the furlong pole and strode on by three lengths for Jody Townend at 10/3. Blizzard Of Oz came through for second at 14/1 by a short head to Mercurey.

Mullins said: "He is improving all the time, his work at home has been very good and I don't think he needs heavy ground either. It wasn't a surprise on his final bits of work at home and he is a horse to look forward to mix it on the flat and over hurdles.

"Both he and Mercurey won their bumpers on heavy ground but the winner is a more mature flat type whereas Mercurey is probably an immature jump horse.

"I'd imagine Impulsive Dancer will go to Punchestown, possibly for the Champion Bumper, and could continue racing during the summer. I don't know whether or not I'll run Mercurey again this season."

Impulsive Dancer won his bumper at Naas in January for Richard O'Brien and sported the colours of his new owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede on his first start for Mullins today.

Paddy Power gave Impulsive Dancer a first show of 20/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and pushed Mercurey out to 33/1 from 12/1 for the same race.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes