McManus on the Mark with majestic Mighty Park

Willie Mullins’ Mighty Park (8/13f) displayed top-class potential in winning Fairyhouse’s Racing Again 24th January Maiden Hurdle by 38 lengths today, providing jockey Mark Walsh with a timely success for employer owner J.P. McManus.

Runner-up in a Quakerstown point-to-point in April, the son of Walk In The Park ‘got in’ as second-reserve for today’s race and sauntered around, eventually making all to beat useful French-import and stablemate Roc Dino (6/4) by almost eight seconds.

Mighty Park was cut from 33/1 to 16s for March’s Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, with today’s success being timely for Walsh whose spell as McManus’ retained jockey was, last Monday, announced to conclude on May 1.

Regarding ex-Donnchadh Doyle-handled Mighty Park, McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported “he couldn’t have done it any better. He made his own running and jumped great, we were very happy with him.

“It might not have been the strongest of races but he couldn’t have done it any nicer than he did. He has all the things you should have, a bit of size and scope so you couldn’t be happier. We’ll see what Willie thinks and see how he comes out of the run. We’ll give him three weeks I suppose and then see where he goes from there and see where Willie wants to go.”

He added “he had the run in the point-to-point and he’s raw enough still. Mark said he was raw enough in front but maybe it would be different in company (with other horses). I’d say another run would mean a lot to him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson