Soir De Garde gives Mullins a winner with only runner at Tramore Champion trainer Willie Mullins struck with his only runner on the card as odds-on favourite Soir De Garde easily landed the QuinnBet Maiden Hurdle at Tramore. A half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner State Man, the seven-year-old had shaped with promise on two previous appearances in bumpers. Having his first start over flights here, the 2/5f tracked leader San Aer for much of the journey. Sent on after jumping three out, Jody Townend always had matters in hand on the Kapgarde gelding. Merely having to be pushed out hands and heels on the run-in, the Mullins trained winner had 10 lengths in hand at the finish. Jody Townend: "I got a dream spin around. He was a bit skew ways over the first and then he settled into it lovely. It all went to plan. Even if no one wanted to go on, I would have let him bowl away in front, he made the running in two bumpers. "I got a grand lead off Danny the whole way, he settled for me and I was able to bowl away down the hill the last time. When he settled so well today he was able to pick up. He was really slick jumping, I had never schooled him at home but the boys told me that he pops away grand. "It's great to win against the pros and I'm thankful to Willie and Joe and Marie (Donnelly) for giving me the opportunity to ride him. The ground suited him as I don't think he is a real slogger. It's lovely safe ground." Regarding the ladies amateur riders title, she added: "I'm one ahead now and finally on the right side of it!" Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
