Space Warrior wins on hurdling debut

Flat maiden Space Warrior (15/2) made a winning jumps debut at Fairyhouse today, as Tom Mullins' colt landed the Starting Point 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle under the trainer's nephew Danny Mullins.

The son of Belardo had managed his best previous fourth-placing at Killarney last month from five Flat runs but today, on hurdling bow, raced with the slow early pace before eventually getting the better of eye-catching runner-up Beyond Your Dreams (4/5f), by a length-and-a-half.

Trainer Mullins reported “he was schooling well although I didn't think he'd win first time out. There is no plan or anything: you'd love to win a Flat race with him but he had a few goes at that and couldn't.

“He didn't like the ground in Galway the last day, that's what the young lad (Sam Coen) said. He jumped well today and Danny was very good on him, he's got a lot of confidence there lately and is riding well. He had schooled him at home a few times and was confident with his jumping.

“Danny said there would be more improvement in him: he said he took another blow today.”

Quotes from Gary Carson