West Coast Time and Patrick Mullins lead them home© Photo Healy Racing
It was like a throwback to the Royal Derbi days as Michael Tabor's famous silks excelled in the jumping sphere, albeit in a bumper, as Patrick Mullins donned the blue and orange to guide West Cost Time to an impressive debut success in the McCarthy Insurance Group INH Flat Race at Cork.
Royal Derbi won the 1993 Irish Champion Hurdle but in more recent times also for Tabor, West Cost Time's dam Refinement won twice at the top level.
Refinement's dam, Maneree won plenty of jumps races for Tabor too.
With the benefit of experience Drumconnor Lad was the even money favourite to win today, but West Coast Time a five-year-old son of Westerner, equipped with a tongue-strap, made mincemeat of him and the rest.
The smooth traveller extended away under Mullins from over a furlong out to give trainer Joseph O'Brien a nine and a half length win.
"It was a good performance and he liked the ground I'd say but I didn't expect him to do that as I thought he'd get a bit tired," said O'Brien.
"I'd say he's not a bad horse and I'm not sure if the Cheltenham Bumper would be the right thing for him this year but maybe. I'd say he'd definitely have to run again to go and hopefully he'll come out of this ok.
"His dam handled good ground so there seems no reason why he shouldn't."
Mr R. Deegan, rider of Stole The Show trained by Paul Nolan, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount accidentally clipped a heel and dislodged the rider.
(TW & EM)
