Protector strikes for Mullins & Meyler A creditable second after being badly hampered on his penultimate start at Wexford before being well beaten at Listowel, Watchful Protector (6/1) appreciated stepping back up in trip when winning the WTW Willis Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary. Trained by Emmet Mullins for Paul Byrne, the Mount Nelson gelding sat second before going on entering the home straight with two to jump and stayed on well to beat market leader King Jon Oliver by six lengths. Winning rider Donagh Meyler said: “He hasn’t been doing things overly well. We were obviously disappointed with him the last day in Listowel and it’s nice to turn it around there today and do what he did. “I’m not sure how strong the race was but they all need winning and he’s done that. Hopefully he can go on from it. “He did things well, he went down and winged the last which probably made life easier. I’m delighted with him.” Additional reporting by  Gary Carson
