Mullins wins Kilbeggan finale on Watergrange Jack

Patrick Mullins won the final race of the year at Kilbeggan, the KilbegganRaces.com (Pro/Am) Flat Race, on the 15/8 favourite Watergrange Jack

Mullins made the running on the 5-year-old before his mount was headed on the final circuit. Back at the head of affairs over three furlongs out, Watergrange Jack stayed on well in the closing stages to repel the challenge of One Last Tango by three quarters of a length.

The winner, who had been the same margin behind the runner-up when the pair were placed at Killarney last month, was gaining a deserved success after a string of placed efforts.

Winning trainer Paddy Hayes, whose jockey brother Chris was on the scoresheet at Down Royal, said: “He's been fierce consistent. In Killarney he was a bit unlucky as he got hampered by the faller and I thought he should have won that day.

“He had a cracking run in Galway and deserved this. Patrick gave him a great ride.

“Niall Redmond and Mikey McGuane did great jobs on him as well but Niall got injured, so couldn't ride him, and Mikey hadn't his licence sorted out in time. I was lucky to get Patrick.

“He'll probably go for a hurdle, get a little bit of a break and then come back after Christmas.

“He's on the go a while now and it's hard to keep them consistent like that, I've been lucky to keep him as consistent as he is.

“He's for sale but no-one has bitten yet, maybe after today. He's a chaser in the making.”

Quotes from Gary Carson