Mumbo Bay (centre) jumps the second last in front of Ellaway Rose (left) and Mm Dazzler (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Mumbo Bay got off the mark over flights on just his second attempt as he took the KCLR 96FM Maiden Hurdle for the mother and son team of Mags and Danny Mullins.
This six-year-old son of Vinnie Roe won a bumper on his debut at Cork last August before disappointing in a winner contest at Naas on yielding ground in October.
He returned to action at Fairyhouse in May, finishing sixth behind Time For A Pint on his hurdling debut.
Having started at 5/2 this morning he opened on-course at 5/1 before going off a 4/1 chance.
After leading and disputing throughout he was sent to the front turning into the straight and he kept on well from there, scoring by two and three parts of a length at the line. Ellaway Rose ran well to finished second at 9/2 under Ger Fox for John Kenny, while the even money favourite (opened 11/8 on-course) Mm Dazzler finished a disappointing third under Mark Walsh for Adrian Maguire.
Mags Mullins said afterwards: "He is still a bit babyish but he is coming the whole time.
"He likes a bit of nice ground and I'd say he is a chaser in the making. I'm delighted for his owners, Mary Walsh who is from Midleton and John O’Connor from Cashel (Mullins also has a share).
"John has had plenty of good horses with the boss (Paddy Mullins) over the years, horses like Western Sunset."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
