Mullins boots home his second winner on the card

Danny Mullins completed his Thurles double aboard Hey Johnny in the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding held an ideal position in second behind Zoffanien and worked his way into the lead before two out where he made a slight mistake. Popova attempted to make a race of it, but was outgunned on the run-in by Hey Johnny who hit the line two and a quarter lengths to the good.

This made it six winning favourites in a row in Thurles as Hey Johnny scored at 7/4 from the 5/1 runner-up.

Trainer Tom Mullins said: "I was finding it hard to get him fit at home so I ran him in a graded race the last day and the whole idea was I was hoping he might get a little penalty to go for the Dublin Racing Festival. I had my eye on the two-mile handicap hurdle at the DRF since Christmas. It has worked out today as he won his race, will have his penalty so will get in.

"He was a strange ride and we had to do that today as we didn't want to risk him falling asleep out the back. Danny said he will be away and alright in a big field, so we'll drop him in the next day.

"He's a half-brother to Sir Gerhard, so hopefully will continue to progress."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes