Sport

Mouchoir on the way to Willie after bumper success

WILLIE Mullins's sparkling day at Punchestown yesterday, where he won all three grade one races, got even better when it was revealed that Goffs Land Rover Bumper, Petit Mouchoir (above) was to join his stable for a hurdling campaign.

Winner of a point-to-point in February, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned four-year-old was a 4-1 joint-favourite for his first start under Rules for Gordon Elliott and quickened clear for an emphatic six-and-a-half-length victory in the hands of Jamie Codd.

Elliott said: "He's a nice horse. He wouldn't be the quickest in the world but he stays very well.

"He's a very nice horse and Willie Mullins will have the pleasure of training him next year. I won't have him, unfortunately. No doubt he'll win plenty of races."

Wish Ye Didnt had earlier extended Enda Bolger's tremendous record in the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase with a sure-footed display under Nina Carberry.

Bolger, winning the race for a fifth time in the last six years, said: "We'll probably claim off this filly on Saturday and it's great to get the week going.

"Nina said she loved the top of the ground and we could keep her going during the summer."

McManus enjoyed his second winner of the afternoon as Some Article emerged victorious after a thrilling climax to the Killashee Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Tom Mullins said: "The Galway Hurdle would have to be in the back of our minds as he's a good-ground horse."

Timing'severything was a 33-1 winner of the concluding JLT INH Flat Race under Jane Mangan.