Mullins and Smullen show their class at Ballinrobe
Monday September 21 2009
Danny Mullins showed he is good value for his 5lb claim by bagging a 87/1 brace on Coral Creek and Ask Jack at Ballinrobe.
The talented jockey struck first on Coral Creek (10/1), with the post coming just in time for Michael Grassick's mare. She was all out to repel Diyla's renewed effort by a short head in the Sponsors Day Tomorrow Handicap.
"This filly is owned by my son Michael and it's her fourth win around here and her sixth career win," said Grassick."She's for sale, we've schooled her over hurdles. She's not very big, but she's very strong and we've no immediate plans for her."
Victory on Ask Jack (7/1) was much easier, as the top weight romped home by seven lengths in the Corrib Oil Race to give Tipperary trainer Joe Murphy his fourth winner of the week.
"The 5lb claim from Danny Mullins was a big help as we were giving away a lot of weight to the younger horses. He delivered in style," said Murphy.
"The horses are running very well at the moment and that's as a result of the change in ground."
Trainer Maria Kelly saddled her first winner from a team of just four when Appraise was the 25/1 winner of the Gypsum Handicap under Billy Lee. "This fellow might go to Dundalk next week if he comes out of the race well," Kelly explained. "There's a chance we might send him over hurdles."
Pat Smullen recorded a 35/1 treble as the reigning champion jockey scored on Carefree Smile (4/1), Rite Of Passage (4/6) and Mutadarek (100-30).
The first two were for Dermot Weld, with Carefree Smile opening her account with a half-length call over Daly in the Ballinrobe Race Committee Maiden, while Rite Of Passage landed the odds on his Flat debut.
Smullen completed his trio on Mutadarek for Joanna Morgan in the EPS Pumps Handicap.
Meanwhile, Drunken Sailor could return to Britain for a hurdle race following his fine second in Saturday's John Smith's Stakes at Newbury. Longford trainer Paul Flynn is eyeing the four-year-old hurdle at Chepstow on October 10, won by Crack Away Jack last season.
