Battleford and Patrick Mullins race to victory© Photo Healy Racing
There was a second winner for Andrea and Graham Wylie on the day at Punchestown, and a third for Willie Mullins when Battleford justified odds of 4/6 on racecourse debut in the Goffs Punchestown Festival Invitational Sale (Pro/Am) Flat Race.
Patrick Mullins was fit and well to take the mount on the British-bred son of Midnight Legend after his spill from Uncle Junior earlier.
Battleford was a faller in a point-to-point at Loughanmore in April (won by the now Mullins trained dual bumper scorer Lucky Pass) when running for the powerful Wilson Dennison and Colin McKeever alliance.
Here he made all and the 'jolly' was ridden to assert a furlong and a half out to see off the promising pair, Presenting Percy and A Rated by two and a quarter lengths and five and a half lengths. Felix Yonger had taken the Grade 2 Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase earlier for Mullins and the Wylies, whilst the Closutton maestro was also on the mark in the opener with Balko Des Flos
"He's been doing nice work at home, and we were very happy with him coming here. Patrick was happy with him and I'd say he will go to Cheltenham," said Mullins after this bumper.
"Augusta Kate is being aimed at the mares bumper in Sandown but there is still a chance that she could go to Cheltenham instead. It will depend on how the race is shaping up."
Paddy Power: Battleford Cheltenham Bumper 16/1 (from 33/1).
(AM & EM)
