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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

It's De Bromhead/Mullins again with Monalee

Thu 2nd Feb 2017, 15:32

Monalee wins easily under David MullinsMonalee wins easily under David Mullins
© Photo Healy Racing

This time last week Henry de Bromhead and David Mullins teamed up to land the Goffs Thyestes Chase with Champagne West and, having enjoyed Grade 1 glory with Petit Mouchoir at Leopardstown on Sunday, the pair recorded another feature race win as Monalee took the Surehaul Mercedez-Benz Novice Hurdle in tremendous fashion at Clonmel.

The 6/4 favourite made light of the testing conditions, with 30mm of rain in recent days and high winds making this a stern test for both man and beast.

The three-mile Grade 3 event narrowed down to the Milan gelding and Battleford early in the straight but it was soon a mismatch as Mullins’ mount strode clear on the run-in.

He was an easy four and three quarter lengths clear at the line, with a yawning gap of 27 lengths further back to Woods Well in third.

De Bromhead said, “It was a really good performance and a super ride from David. I hoped he might do something like that. It was a competitive race and he did it really nicely.

“We think he wants better ground. He ran a savage race in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year. He’s a Milan and is a good moving horse.

“He’s entered in the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett, and we’ll see nearer the time. The Albert Bartlett would look the obvious race but there are a few things we need to consider like Death Duty! He has a bit of class as well.”

Paddy Power go 12/1 (from 20/1) for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle.

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.