Willie edges clear in 'Mullinsbury Cup'

Willie Mullins edged two winners ahead (13-11) in the 'Mullinsbury Cup' at Punchestown today as the Champion Trainer completed a five-timer in the concluding Grant Thornton (C&G) Bumper with impressive winner Dysart Dynamo (1/1f).

The son of Westerner was nonchalant in winning his Clonmel debut last month but today was lit-up under Patrick Mullins, although it somehow mattered little, as he easily beat runner-up Gordon Dai Dai

Mullins was on the scoresheet six times for Ireland in last month's Prestury Cup at Cheltenham but has taken over Punchestown, with a five-timer, treble and five-timer on the opening three days of the festival, meaning he has more Punchestown winners than his rival trainers combined.

Dysart Dynamo was trainer Mullins' 13th individual winner for as-many owners, and afterwards reported “he looks a real nice acquisition for the yard. I don't think I've seen a horse pull as hard as him and still finish a race in a long while. He looks a real exciting prospect.

“He's every inch a chaser to look at and he must have some engine. They have to stay sound and stay right but it's certainly nice to have a horse like him in the yard.

“He's a home-bred (by owner Eleanor Manning) and I think they've landed on a nice one.”

Quotes from Gary Carson