Pique Sous and Billy Lee at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Pique Sous absolutely hacked up in the ‘Petingo’ Handicap for champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Billy Lee.
“With the rain coming we were favouring [Call Me] Bubbles. This horse is improving all the time. He jumped and raced nicely,” Willie Mullins said.
“Billy thought there wouldn’t be much pace on so I said to be up there. He rode his own race and he was very confident on him for a lad that hadn’t ridden him before.
“He’s ground dependant. That ground mustn’t be too bad. That was a pay day we didn’t expect to get and we’re glad to get it on the flat.
“I imagine he’s one that we might travel to Cheltenham with in November.”
Pique Sous is better known for his hurdling exploits. He is rated 137 in that sphere and won this flat handicap off 88. He ran sixth in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before winning a Grade 2 novices hurdle in Fairyhouse in April.
Pique Sous was always in the front rank behind Mourani and Jack Daddy The six-year-old grey gelding was tanking along before Lee asked him to go and take the race by the scruff of the neck a furlong from home.
He duly stayed on best to win by three lengths at 10/1. Jack Daddy took second spot at 25/1 with half a length back to another Mullins runner, the top-weight Digeanta in third. Weather Watch (7/1) and Alhellal (20/1) dead-heated for fourth in this 18-runner handicap.
Aidan O’Brien’s Agreement was withdrawn not under orders which led to a Rule 4 of 15 cent in the euro to board prices.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
