Pa King (red cap) wins on Goldinthemountains© Photo Healy Racing
After sending out third and fourth placers earlier in the day trainer Martin Brassil and owners Sean and Bernardine Mulryan ended St Stephen's Day on the right note through Goldinthemountains (10/1) under Pa King in the concluding Race And Stay INH Flat Race at Leopardstown.
Fourth at the Punchestown Festival 241 days ago on debut for Pat Doyle, the Flat-bred four-year-old has evidently come forward nicely in the interim.
Ridden to lead over a furlong out the successful chestnut went on to beat Mywayofthinkin and favourite Cantico by two lengths and three and a half lengths.
Brassil stated:- “He's a lovely horse. We got him after his summer break, Pat Doyle had him schooling in the spring and ran him in a bumper at Punchestown, he ran a beautiful race to be fourth.
“We hadn't killed him with work, he's strengthening up and enjoying life. He's a lovely tempered horse, you could ride him up through the crowd there and he wouldn't pay a blind bit of notice. He just has a good mind.
“He'll like a bit of nicer ground as well. He jumps really well, he has schooled over hurdles and fences, and he'll be a nice one to look forward to next year for hurdling.
“He might run in another bumper in the spring at Punchestown or here. He's not a typical bumper horse, he's just a good galloping horse and I'd say the further he goes the better he'll be.”
On Paddy Power Chase prospects for tomorrow the County Kildare-based handler commented: "I hope the rain doesn't come. If the ground stayed as it is I'd be hoping Panda Boy should run a big race.
“The other horse (Desertmore House) has gone up plenty in the weights. He got 10lb for the Kerry National and it remains to be seen how much he'll improve but he surprised us in Kerry and might surprise us again.”
Meanwhile on stable star Fastorslow the County Clare native said: “He's in great form and I'm delighted with him, very happy.”
(GC & EM)
