Mullins & Katie Walsh win Champion Bumper

Irish Grand National winning jockey Katie Walsh registered her first Grade 1 success at Punchestown today when helping Champion Trainer Willie Mullins complete a top level double on the day, on Blow By Blow (14/1) in the Attheraces.com Champion I.N.H. Bumper,.

Walsh, who steered Thunder And Roses to win the Grade A 2015 Irish National, made all on the Gigginstown House Stud owned son of Robin Des Champs, who fought off the challenge of Moon Racer by three parts of a length. The winner's stablemate Bacardys under Patrick Mullins, filled third place.

Trainer Mullins, earlier successful with Bellshill in a Grade 1 novice hurdle, later stated “it takes a fair stayer to do what he did; I thought they were going a bit quick in front, and it looked like Moon Racer came there to win. Katie was very good and very strong, and I was surprised to hear that is her first Grade 1 winner.

"I was happy with all four of my runners there and they all seemed to run pretty well to form but Blow By Blow is improving and, being a Robin Des Champs, liked that ground.

"He looks an Albert Bartlett (Hurdle) horse for next season, and really is every inch a chaser."

Jockey Sonny Carey had been declared for the ride on Blow By Blow but was replaced by Walsh as her intended mount Battleford (lame) was taken out at 10am.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee