Mumbo Bay (Danny Mullins, left) holds off Egyptian Warrior (centre) and Kolaphos (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Danny Mullins will doubtless have derived plenty of pleasure from the dashing drive that he gave to his mother Mag's Mumbo Bay to win the opening Barna Recycling Rated Novice Hurdle at Galway.
The young Kilkenny man has endured some well documented trying times lately but there was no evidence of that having had an affect here as he asked and got some great leaps from his mount in the closing stages. The front-runner went on to hold Kolaphos by a length and three parts.
Favourite Lord Scoundrel ended up finishing last of the four after a mistake at the second last hurdle.
Danny Mullins said: "It was always going to be tactical but I had a very willing partner. He was a little bit babyish earlier in his career but he's maturing very well."
For her part Mag explained: "I'm delighted for the owner, Mary Walsh, she's from Midleton in Cork. She's not here but she'll be watching at home and it's the first time that a horse has run in her colours.
"She's been involved in horses before but that's the first time one ran in her colours.
"He loved that ground – he likes a little bit of juice but he wouldn't want bottomless ground.
"He's a horse that'll go over a fence next year."
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Lord Scoundrel, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(AM & EM)
