Saglawy lands gamble in Fairyhouse Grade 2

Saglawy did his bit for Team Mullins in winning the Grade 2 BoyleSports Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse today as the Paul Townend partnered gelding beat off a Gordon Elliott trained runner-up while also landing a gamble.

Heavily backed from 11/4 on track in to 13/8 favourite at the off, Saglawy, a son of Youmzain, did the business in the race when making all, despite blundering at the final flight.

Saglawy's Champion Trainer Willie Mullins had trailed Championship-rival Elliott by E564,000 but cut that deficit by E22,000 following today's race, which attracted seven runners, four of which were Mullins trained, with Elliott supplying the remainder.

Jockey Townend later reported “he's improving from one run to the next and I think he's not finished improving yet.

“I probably put too much pressure on his jumping over the last two and it was good to get away with it at the last. He galloped away again and then galloped to the line.

“We've hacked around and sprinted up the straight. We'll see what the plans are but it wouldn't be a huge surprise (to see him at Punchestown next week).”

“He's definitely one that's going the right way.”

Mullins' other runners finished third, fifth and sixth while Elliott's trio were second, fourth and last.

Quotes from Gary Carson