Mullins doubles up on Bay

Danny Mullins notched a quick double at Cork this afternoon courtesy of the Sean Byrne-trained Freemans Bay in the two-and-a-half mile maiden hurdle. Killaney King cut out the running but gave way going to the third last and Big Stage and Freemans Bay came to battle it out.

A quicker jump at the final flight gave the advantage to Freemans Bay and he kept on strongly on the run-in to post a two length success.

The 14/1 winner, who had claimed a point-to-point at Tinahely in November, was a well-beaten third to Cheltenham winner Jasmin De Vaux in a Naas bumper on his last outing.

The trainer's son Sean Byrne junior said afterwards:- "He is a fine big horse, is a chaser in the making and his bumper form was very good. He finished behind a champion bumper winner the last day so we thought we had a good chance.

"He was backward and we tried running him at five but he was too weak and said we'd wait. It has been worth waiting for though and he'll go chasing next season.

"We'll either look for a novice hurdle now or see what mark he gets and work from there. He stays all day, is a real three-miler and was still babyish today.

"His dam Oilily was a proper mare, won twice around here and finished second in the Punchestown Champion Bumper."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)