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Mullins doubles up at Clonmel aboard Loi Des Jeux

Loi Des Jeux and Danny Mullins near Loi Des Jeux and Danny Mullins near
© Healy Racing Photos

Amongst the winners earlier in the evening, Danny Mullins recorded a double when guiding the well backed Loi Des Jeux to victory in Division ll of the Bet With Tote.ie On Racing & Sports Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.

Supported from 9/2 into 15/8f, the Donal Hassett trained gelding was always prominent before being produced to challenge long time leader Ballingurteen after jumping the third last.

Pushed along to lead narrowly at the penultimate flight, the Darragh McDonagh owned gelding sealed the race with a good jump at the last.

Staying on strongly up the hill. Loi Des Jeux kept on to beat the closing Koeur A Prendre by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Assistant Trainer Brian Hassett said: "He had a problem with a tooth years ago and hanging left seems to be a mental thing with him since. He was initially going point-to-pointing but was jumping left, and it is all in his head.

"His owner Darragh McDonagh is best friends with Dom Murphy who owns our Sunday winner Humble Brag and has Heads Up (Cheltenham runner-up) in training with John McConnell.

"Darragh didn't sell him at the sales, where I was mad about the horse, so thankfully he dropped him down to us and is the first horse he has had with us. He has shown patience with the horse and had a few quid on today, which was great.

"I wasn't worried about the opposition but was worried about the ground. If the ground is safe, he could go to Limerick in two weeks and if he were to win there, he could get into Galway but either way, he'll be a nice horse next winter.

"My dad is doing the hard work home milking the cows and it is great to follow up Sunday's win. We have mainly point-to-pointers at the moment but have recently got more to train for the racecourse."

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes).

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.