Hawaii Five Nil (right) grabs Turnandgo on the line at Clonmel© Photo Healy Racing
Most unusually for backers of the Willie Mullins bumper horses, they had their fingers burnt for the second day in succession when another former point-to-point horse, 4/9 shot (from 8/13), Turnandgo failed to cope with Hawaii Five Nil in the concluding Clonmel Oil Slan Abhaile INH Flat Race.
The winner, a son of Gold Well (ironically the sire of Mullins' beaten Downpatrick favourite, Bally Longford) was one of many that still held a chance off a sedate pace, set by Turnandgo, into the straight.
Patrick Mullins asked Turnandgo to go and win his race around a furlong out and he shook off all bar Hawaii Five Nil.
The pair quickened up really well inside the last but at the line Hawaii Five Nil was a short-head up on Turnandgo.
Eoin Doyle and Pat Collins are a combination that can do little wrong at present and they came together for this victory. The 10/1 winner is owned by Doyle's wife, Gemma.
Collins said: "He's a lovely horse. He was a bit green in his first two races and he quickened up very well when I asked him today. He'll appreciate better ground as well."
Collins has ridden two good winners 'between the flags' for Doyle lately, Champagne West and Island Confusion, and they are sure to generate plenty of interest at the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale tomorrow evening. (TW & EM)
