Ile Atlantique hits the front© Photo Healy Racing
French-import Ile Atlantique took the bumper in Leopardstown on Irish debut for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
The 4/7 favourite made progress in third with half a mile to race and was poised to strike behind Castlebawn North and Feronily straightening for home.
Feronily and Ile Atlantique took over inside the final quarter of a mile and it was the latter who edged to the front racing into the final furlong.
He finished well in the closing stages to draw two and a half lengths clear of the 9/2 runner-up. No Time To Wait was another three and a quarter lengths back in third at 7/2.
Willie Mullins said: “He’s a nice sort and is just learning on the job. He was very green turning for home and when Patrick asked him, it took a while for the penny to drop up the straight.
“I think he’s championship bumper class so he’ll be heading down that road. He’ll probably come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
