Danny Mullins rewarded for thinking outside box on Shanbally Kid Not for the first time, jockey Danny Mullins proved himself to be a master tactician when charting a wide course on Shanbally Kid to easily win the Oaklodgelandscapes.ie Handicap Chase at Punchestown. Electing to race out on his own away from his 22 rivals, Mullins appeared to be travelling nicely when joining up with the main group entering the straight. Soon well clear, he could afford to take a leisurely glance behind him after jumping two out, such was the superiority he held over the opposition. Pushed out hands and heels from the last fence, the eight-year-old, who came into the race a maiden chaser romped home an impressive 15 length winner. On the last day of the Irish National Hunt season, Mullins almost certainly did enough to earn the award for ride of the season with a masterful display. Danny Mullins commented: "He's just a little horse that, always over hurdles, I actually thought he was going to run a big race in a Coral Cup one year going to Cheltenham and never fulfilled that. "He loves a bit of room; he's a little bit timid I suppose and being out there on his own he's just relished it and what a feeling you know, That trip, getting a bit of space away from horses and typical of Willie, you know, placed him right. "I said to Willie I want to keep space on him and he said "if you think he'll jump for you doing that, go ahead and do it." Trainer Willie Mullins said: “That was his plan. He had walked the track and thought there was nicer ground out there. “The other thing about this horse is that he’s a bit like his owner, he likes to be on his own! “He gets a bit upset when he’s near horses and I said to Danny to keep him on his own as much as he could, but I didn’t realise he had such a plan in mind. “He said it to Wendy going out that he was going to go wide and the horse likes that. “He didn’t make a mistake, compared to the start of the year when he was an awful ride. “Mikey O’Sullivan actually rode him a good few times and put in the hard yards on him, as Danny said to me afterwards. “He learned how to jump during the season and got the right trip today. He could be a national horse for the future and he’s a novice in England for next season as the English season ended last week.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
