Emmet Mullins rode his first double as a professional at Fairyhouse last Friday to add to a brace achieved as an amateur at the Punchestown Festival, and the in-form pilot supplemented his earlier gains on Quiscover Fontaine when Whinstone Boy just beat off fellow joint-favourite, Dashing George by a neck in the Annual Members Raceday Handicap Hurdle.
Under a confident steer, Whinstone Boy made his ground up the outside in the straight, a good jump took him into a narrow lead at the last and despite drifting left close home he had just done enough to prevail.
Bred by the Dee Racing Syndicate, owners of Monty's Pass, the 2003 Grand National hero, this fellow is owned by the Whinstone Syndicate, whose members include Muir Higginson, Noel Murphy and Adam Armstrong, some of whom were involved in Monty's Pass. They missed seeing his Thurles win almost a fortnight ago but they were in attendance this time for the dual winning 'pointers' success.
Winning trainer, Jimmy Mangan said: "Emmet said that he is really a three miler. Stamina is his game and Emmet's five pound claim was a big help. He'll have a few more runs over hurdles before he goes chasing." (EM)
