Joy for punters as Oscars takes the last

The Mag Mullins trained newcomer Oscars Joy landed a major gamble in the last at Limerick this evening, the Greenmount Summer Fun Bumper.

Having opened this morning with Paddy Powers at 9/2, the 5yo daughter of Flemensfirth opened on course at just 11/4 before being punted into 5/4 favourite at the off.

Ridden by Patrick Mullins, she raced in mid-division early on before taking closer order from under six furlongs out.

She went a moderate second from before the straight as Benefit Days had a significant lead over the field.

However she couldn’t hold off the winner, who closed to challenge and hit the front a furlong from home before staying on best to score by two lengths at the line.

The John Burke trained Benefit Days plugged on to take second at 16/1 under Stephen Byrne while Our Lady Carmel was a further nine and a half lengths back in third at 20/1 for Prunella Dobbs with Declan Lavery aboard.

Winning trainer Mag Mullins said afterwards: "She's not big but she has a heart of gold and is as tough as nails.

"Patrick thinks she will improve. She jumps well and she has run in a schooling hurdle."

The winner is a half-sister to the James Morrissey trained Melanjo who recently won her bumper at Gowran.

(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)