Dancing City and Danny Mullins win the BetVictor Maiden Hurdle at Navan. © Photo Healy Racing
Having landed the opening maiden hurdle, trainer Willie Mullins and his nephew Danny quickly doubled up with Dancing City proving best in the BetVictor Proud To Support Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle at Navan.
Despite proving rather friendless in the market(sent off 9/4 from evens), the six-year-old overcame a couple of novicey jumping errors to run out an impressive winner at the finish.
Similar to opening race winner Spread Boss Ted the son of Feel Like Dancing was also making a second start over flights. He too, showed the benefit of that initial experience, as he was much more competent here. Park The Giant made much of the running but was strongly pressed by Nas Na Riogh run the run to two out. At that point, the well backed 4-5f Slanagaibhgoleir was struggling back in fourth place, with Dancing City also looking in trouble in third.
Moving into second approaching the final flight, the eventual winner was slightly untidy at that obstacle but once asked to go and win his race the gelding showed a smart turn of foot to forge ahead on the run-in.
“Off the bend I was off he bridle but I was happy that once I met the rising ground I would find more,” said Danny Mullins.
“He missed the last and still ran out a good winner so all-in-all it's probably a good performance.
“Like the horse in the first race, we were hoping he'd improve and it's nice to see them go and do it.
“For such a big horse he's getting it together. When we were chatting this morning about them Paul said the last day he was a bit raw. Between us we made a plan and it worked.
“This was a maiden, hacking around, and in a more truly run race we might see a bit more. He has that bit of class that he will stay but we maybe don't have to go there just yet.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
