Embassy Gardens (navy and yellow) comes to challenge Santonito (on rail) © Photo Healy Racing
The Paddy Power 'I'd Love A Pint But It's 8pm' Flat Race produced a terrific finish as 4/6 favourite Embassy Gardens and Santonito (7/2) went head to head all the way up to the straight.
To be honest, the freeze frame on the line suggested a dead-heat but the judge’s verdict was that the favourite was up by a nose under Patrick Mullins.
It was a victorious debut for the son of Shantou and Grade 1-winning hurdler Adriana Des Mottes as he completed another Leopardstown treble for winning trainer Willie Mullins who said: “He was very green and then getting a slap across the face in the final stages (from the whip of the runner-up's rider) and the other horse coming out on top of him didn't help,” said Mullins.
“Hopefully he'll improve a little bit from that. I'd say the second horse has improved from his last run. My fella has been showing me plenty at home."
Quotes from Gary Carson
