Foley clearly a talent and 271/1 double lights up Punchestown An incredible 271/1 double for the recently turned conditional Jack Foley kept the Mullins name up in lights with Grand Partner (33/1) completing the brace in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle. Tom Mullins trains Grand Partner, and Foley’s earlier winner, Chavi Artist, whilst Willie Mullins also handled two of today’s winners, Buildmeupbuttercup and Fighter Allen. Tom and Willie’s nephew Emmet landed the big Greatwood Hurdle over at Cheltenham with The Shunter, but Foley looks another name now that we’re going to be hearing plenty more of. He rode Rock Chica to win as an amateur for the Doninga team at Tipperary last month, and today’s were his second and third career victories. Foley is in the paid ranks now though, and he’s likely to be in demand with that seven pound allowance. Grand Partner came through with a wet sail on the run-in under Foley, who took a waiting approaching through the contest, to beat Halsafari by a length and a half. “I’m with Tom full-time and only had two rides as a professional before today,” said Foley (21) from Bagnaelstown. Meanwhile Mullins explained: “It was a lovely race for him and even though it was right-handed I let him take his chance. Most of his wins were at Leopardstown or left-handed tracks. “It’s a bit of a surprise but he’s been working well since his last run. He’s come down in the weights and Jack was good on him. “Jack was with me five years ago as an apprentice and rode Fosters Cross at Dundalk. He’s come back to me this summer and is a different man altogether now. “He said he’d do anything to have a crack at being a jockey. He’s put in a lot of work, I’ve given him his opportunity and it’s working out.” (AM & EM)
