Danny Mullins excels with patient ride on Rotten Row

Danny Mullins has few equals when it comes to judging the pace from the front but the Kilkenny man showed that he is equally effective with a hold up horse when delivering Rotten Row late on to take the opening Three Ireland Rated Novice Chase at Tramore. Bonarc and Chrisco set a fast gallop up front taking a number of rivals off their feet in the early stages of the race. Mullins was content to drop his mount in, confident that stamina would come into play in the later stages of this content.

With the front pair sending out distress signals on the run out of the back straight, it was Ahead Of The Posse and latterly, Itwasfate who took over at the head of affairs.

All the while, Rotten Row was creeping closer under a confident ride, eventually being delivered with a challenge at the second last, before taking over at the final fence. As the opposition wilted after a real strong gallop, the Tony Mullins trained six-year-old powered clear on the run-in.

The winning trainer said: "I fancied him in Kilbeggan the last day but he pulled muscles in his back and Donagh Meyler said he just couldn't use himself. We got a chiropractor in and worked on his back.

"I was afraid the two-miles was too short for him here. Danny said at halfway he was absolutely happy with everything and he thought with the gallop they went, they were going to come back to him. He was afraid that they might go slow early and that he wouldn't be able to quicken the way he did.

"He has a little cut on his hind leg but if it's okay he will run again on Sunday. His owner sponsors the big race (McCarthys Irish Bar Lexington Handicap Chase) on Sunday and it would be a dream if he could win his own race.

"Roddy is a Waterford native and his family have been steeped in horses for years. Roddy would be excited if he could win his own race but to win at the festival is huge for him. We are going to aim for the two wins though!"

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.