Local Celebrity, far side, wins by a neck from His Excellency in a driving finish at Sligo© Photo Healy Racing
Local Celebrity (2/1) put in a fluent and quick display of hurdling to take the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Hurdle over two miles at Sligo with Patrick Mullins in the saddle.
The pair led from flagfall and a particularly good jump at the last enabled them to hold on by a fast-diminishing neck from 6/4 favourite His Excellency ridden by Davy Russell. The winner attracted support from a morning price of 7/2.
Patrick Mullins partnered the winner for his father Willie and the jockey said: “He runs in the colours of a few lads from Trinity [TCD Horse Racing Society Club] but none of them could make it up here as they all have exams next week.
“He’s a fantastic hurdler and his jump at the last probably won it for him. I think two miles is his best trip. If he jumps fences as well he will be all right. He will probably go over fences sooner rather than later.”
Willie Mullins also had Tango Banbou (ridden by Ruby Walsh) in the race, but the 6/1 shot could make no impression and came home last of the six runners.
This success made it four wins from seven rides for Patrick Mullins when riding for his father Willie at Sligo.
Michael Graham
