Castello Sforza wins the closing race in Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
There may have been 25 runners for the prestigious Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse, but Castello Sforza proved the pick of them when winning at 9/2.
Willie Mullins had four horses in this race with his son Patrick on board Castello Sforza.
The Milan gelding made his move into third with a quarter of a mile to race in this two-mile contest. He was then ridden into the lead a furlong and a half out and kept on well to post a success by a length and three quarters. His SP was 9/2. Sunni May at 12/1 took second. He was four and a half lengths up on well-backed 7/2 favourite Death Duty
Willie Mullins said: "He was the only one of mine able to take the race, the others were just too weak in very testing conditions.
"I've no intention of going to Punchestown with him. Maybe he could go for the bumper at the Curragh but we'll probably put him away.
"This man has got into the game to go jumping and the aim is Cheltenham next year, whether that's for the bumper or over hurdles we'll see."
This was a first National Hunt runner for Pearl Bloodstock in Ireland.
This gave Willie Mullins a double at Fairyhouse as Shaneshill won the Grade Two novice hurdle on the card. He had an across-the-card four-timer courtesy of On His Own and Tennis Cap in Cork.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
