Outlander rounds off great day for the Mullins' Outlander completed a treble for Willie Mullins and a double for Patrick as he took the last race of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, the Thorntons Recycling INH Flat Race. The 4yo son of Stowaway failed to win a point-to-point in three attempts when trained by Pat Doyle but he scored on his first start for Willie Mullins in a bumper at Fairyhouse earlier this month and he followed up in style this afternoon. Having raced in fourth for much of the contest he improved into second four furlongs from home. He came with his challenge two furlongs out and he soon hit the front. He was ridden to assert over a furlong out and he kept on strongly to score by six and a half lengths. The Pat Shanahan trained Posidean Sea finished second under Mikey Fogarty at 12/1 while Somethingwonderful (5/2) was a further four lengths back in third under Johnny King for Dessie Hughes. Willie Mullins said afterwards: "He doesn't show that ability at home, he seems to keep it for the race track. "We won’t go hurdling with him yet we will try and find another winners bumper before the ground dries out. His pedigree would suggest he likes a good cut in the ground. "We will keep him for novice hurdles next season." The win moves Patrick Mullins on to the 74 winner mark for the year. He of course broke Billy Parkinson's 97 year record earlier in the day aboard Zuzka. (Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
