Purple Mountain and Patrick Mullins© Photo Healy Racing
Two runners at Gowran yielded Listed race honours on the double for Willie Mullins as Purple Mountain took the finale, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares INH Flat Race.
Following on from a Killarney success from 43 days back, the 9/4 favourite travelled well in the hands of Patrick Mullins.
He asked the well-bred daughter of Beat Hollow to go and win her race from over a furlong out. Sheer Liss looks a nice stayer in the making for Kenny Alexander and Gordon Elliott and she stuck on for second, two and three parts of a length adrift of Purple Mountain.
The other Closutton victor on the card, was Buildmeupbuttercup under Paul Townend in the Pat Walsh Memorial Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.
“It’s great and my mother bred her so well done to her. She’s not easy at home and Jason Deer has done a lot of work massaging her,” reported Patrick Mullins.
“She’s shown us that she can handle soft ground and good ground.
“I’d imagine the owners (the Mees) will want to aim for Galway next year so I don’t think she will be going jumping anytime soon.
“There is another Listed mares bumper in Navan so we might aim there.”
The Stewards interviewed Mr. D.T. McGrath, rider of Three Thirds concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that Mr. D.T. McGrath was in breach of Regulation 10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his record, they suspended him for 3 racedays.
(AM & EM)
