Mullins and Walsh strike at Sandown Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins rarely leave empty handed on British raids and the French import Babylone Des Motte took the EBF Stallions/TBA Mares' Bumper. Ineligible to run in bumpers in Ireland due to her success in an APQS race, she travelled noticeably well throughout but had to quicken up smartly when Lifeboat Mona swept around the outside under Megan Nicholls. Babylone Des Motte soon went clear, however, and while Briery Queen stayed on nicely to take second, the 9-2 chance had a length in hand. Her task was made easier when the hot favourite Whistle Dixie stumbled early on, unshipping Bryan Cooper. Joe Chambers, representing winning owner Rich Ricci, said: "She was not qualified to run in bumpers in Ireland because of her win in France. "There was great prize money on offer and we are delighted to support such a great race. We didn't want to waste her novice hurdles status at this time of year and as she is qualified to run in EBF events we thought we would take our chance and it paid off. "She was very keen and as soon as the gap appeared she went through . Ruby felt he went a bit too soon, but he had to go for it. There is not a lot of her as she is only a pony, but she has completed her first step."
