Not a married man's ride! Danny Mullins on Ballinaboola Steel © Photo Healy Racing
Danny Mullins repeated the tactics that proved successful on Cluan Dara in the third as he guided Ballinaboola Steel to victory in the 2m6f handicap chase.
Staying well out wide throughout on obviously unwatered ground, Mullins swept around the field on the approach to the straight to lead before two out and winged the last two fences to score by three and a quarter lengths from Pairc Na Ngael
It was a first win over fences to go with four over hurdles for 'Shark' Hanlon's ten-year-old who was supported from 10/1 into 9/2 before the off.
As John Mullane would say on his hurling co-commentary stints, 'kudos' to Danny Mullins for two bold and brilliantly-executed rides.
The winning rider said: "I was just beaten a head here on him here a couple of runs back, he had solid runs in England and I thought if he replicated his form he would be hard to beat and he duly obliged.
"I came off the hill well and could hear Mark (Walsh, on runner-up Pairc Na Ngael) closing on me. The good jump at the last put it to bed and once I got over it, the hooves were sounding more distant."
Regarding going so wide, he joked "maybe they are just claustrophobic like me! Having a bit of room is no harm for them."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
