Mullins winner arrives in finale

The almost inevitable Willie Mullins winner arrived in the finale on day one of the Punchestown Festival, when first-timer, Cilaos Emery (100/30 favourite) landed the Donohue Marquees INH Flat Race.

It looked like we might get a real standout performance from the Patrick Mullins-ridden Cilaos Emery, when he moved smoothly to the front and asserted into the straight.

Jessica Harrington 's Someday was checked in his run at around the same point, and he performed very well in the circumstances to close down Cilaos Emery to half a length at the finish.

"He works very well but he's quite a light horse. We hadn't done any hard work with him so we weren't sure how good he was," said Patrick.

"What he was doing in half speeds was very good though.

"Down the back straight I had to get down and push him five or six times, but he's quite green as we weren't working him hard.

"Coming around the home bend he was pricking his ears. I kicked then - I did the same in the Land Rover (on Jenkins the runner-up) and didn't get home. It worked here - unfortunately it didn't work earlier.

"I think there's a lot of improvement in him.

"It's nice for Luke McMahon (owner) to get a winner. His Uncle Junior retires this week so hopefully this fellow can give him as much pleasure."

Willie Mullins said: "He's obviously very smart and showed lots of gears. He has a real staying pedigree so when he showed that it's very encouraging. He did it the hard way as he only had a few horses behind him at the stone wall. He showed greenness but then he showed lots of speed and then showed off his stamina when Jessie's horse came to him. He's a horse for the future.

"I think he'll need a break now as he was ready today, and he'll come back later on. He could go to Galway for a winners bumper, or we may leave him off and come back jumping."

The Stewards interviewed Miss K. Harrington, rider of Someday (GB), placed second, concerning her use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion Miss K. Harrington was in breach of Regulation 10 3 (f) in that she had used her whip with excessive frequency, and having taken her record into account, they suspended her for 2 racedays .

(AM & EM)