Coolfighter is ridden out close home by Danny Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
The well-backed Coolfighter justified odds-on favouritism as he took the Bet Online At thetote.com Claiming Race for the father and son team of Tony and Danny Mullins.
The six-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy started at 7/4 this morning but was well-supported throughout the day, opening on-course at 5/6, the price he was returned.
Having chased the leaders in the early stages he was settled in mid-division and was fifth at the halfway stage.
He travelled well to challenge two furlongs out and hit the front a furlong and a half from home, going on to score comfortably by three lengths. Paple Blessing kept on to take second at 20/1 under Conor Hoban for John Murphy while last year's winner Dusty Trail (5/4 this morning, returned at 2/1) was a further nine lengths back in third under Connor King for Eoin Doyle.
Tony Mullins said afterwards: "Danny said in a race like that where he has confidence he rides nice. When he gets a bit of competition he is not as brave as he looks.
"We will have a look at Saturday or Sunday for him now and hopefully he will come back, more than likely for the rated race on Saturday.
"It is rated flat race for horses 70 and under and he is rated 67 so he should be spot on.
"The race on Sunday is a maiden hurdle but he is more likely to go for the one on Saturday.
"He is what he is, his run in Galway should see him win that and I just wanted to see him get his head in front to gain and a bit of confidence and he might go on from here. He is not a bad horse and he is well-capable of winning off 67 or 70."
After the race the winner was claimed by Robert Dooly for €10,000 while the runner-up was claimed by John Queally for €4,000.
