Mutasarref begins life with Lyons in good style

Mutasarref rewarded plenty of support to decisively land the Leopardstown Handicap over seven furlongs.

This was his first start for Ger Lyons having won his maiden for Dermot Weld when last seen at Listowel in September. He made his handicap debut today.

The 13/8 favourite was swinging away for Colin Keane close to the pace as the race hotted up two furlongs out.

The pair came to claim Wee Pablo approaching the final furlong and soon had the race in the bag.

Mutasarref began to assert inside the one pole and readily galloped home by two and a half lengths. Timourid (40/1) got up for second from morning-price-gamble Midnight Fire (6/1) who won this race last year. Knocknakilla (7/1) gave his backers a place return in fourth.

Lyons said: “That was grand and he did what he's been doing at home. We liked him and Eleanora (Kennedy, owner) flew in for the day so it's nice to win with him when she's here.

“He's a nice horse and I thought he was well handicapped to win that. There is maybe another day in him as long as the handicapper doesn't go bananas. He's a fun horse to have.

“Colin said he's not the horse he rode last year, he's twice the size.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson