Willie Mullins completed a near 75/1 four-timer in the bumper with Cheltenham Bumper fourth, Quel Esprit who scored by four lengths under Patrick, in the Orbis (Pro/Am) Flat Race. For good measure, Closutton also supplied the runner-up, the Katie Walsh-partnered Skorcher
Patrick (19, a first year Equine Business Student at Maynooth), who rode his 49th winner of the season to break Ted Walsh's post-war record (1976, then counted up over the calendar year) for the number of winners ridden by an amateur in a season, at Kilbeggan on Saturday, subsequently lost one of those (Florida Pal - prohibited substance at Clonmel in March). Therefore Quel Esprit will actually be counted as the landmark winner.
Willie said: "He did well to win off that slow pace and he is a horse I'm really looking forward to next year. I'm not sure what we'll do, we might put him straight over fences as he is really a chaser in the making. The staff at Punchestown deserve great credit for having the track in such good shape considering the weather."
Quel Esprit has plenty in common with Cooldine, as Andy Slattery was the man who put both on the path to the top by winning point-to-points with the pair. Jessies Dream Fiveforthree and Barker were Willie's other winners on the day. He has now had three Grade 1 winners, Hurricane Fly, Fiveforthree and Barker and his tally for the week stands at eight (a treble yesterday with The Midnight Club, J'y Vole and Jayo).
