18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Acapella leads home Mullins clean sweep in Suir Valley

Tue 26th Mar 2019, 16:53

Acapella Bourgeois produces a fine leapAcapella Bourgeois produces a fine leap
© Photo Healy Racing

A big leap at the last settled matters for Acapella Bourgeois as he produced a fine front-running performance in the Suir Valley Chase at Clonmel today.

The chestnut gelding went to post a 7/4 shot for the extended two-mile-three contest with his trainer Willie Mullins saddling half of the six-runner field.

Paul Townend bounced out in front on his mount and he was tackled by stable-mate Yorkhill (11/8f) turning for home.

Acapella Bourgeois had a length advantage over the second last and went on at the final fence as a better jump gave him the edge over Yorkhill.

The nine-year-old surged clear on the run-in to record an eight-and-a-half length success, his first win since joining Mullins. Polidam completed a clean sweep for the yard, finishing 14 lengths back in third.

"He enjoyed himself and he was jumping out of his skin. We'll look for a similar contest where he can get a chance to enjoy himself,” said Mullins.

"The Imperial Call Chase at Cork could be a plan next - I'd like to keep things easy and I'd probably skip a hot handicap like the Galway Plate in favour of easier races.

"Yorkhill promised to run a race and Ruby thought he'd go and win around the second last but he needed it.

“I'm delighted I ran him because at least we got that far in him. He jumped fairly straight and it was only when he got tired that he came out and he took a huge blow after it.

"Polidam ran a better race than he has for a while and he could go for the Topham."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.