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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Encore battles to bumper win

Sat 2nd Dec 2017, 15:59

Minella Encore and Patrick Mullins Minella Encore and Patrick Mullins
© Photo Healy Racing

Minella Encore was made to work hard to land the odds in the concluding bumper at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

The 4/9 hotpot came to tackle front-runner Narcissistic in the straight and only gained a narrow lead going to the furlong marker.

Patrick Mullins kept his mount up to his work in the closing stages to record a hard-fought half-length success.

The King's Theatre gelding was making his first start for Willie Mullins having landed a point-to-point for Colin Bowe last January.

"He was a little green and I think he's won with a bit up his sleeve,” said the winning rider.

“I expect he'll improve a lot for the initial experience, and I'd imagine he'll want a trip in time. He's a horse that we like a lot.

"He's won a point-to-point and he has loads of size so he'll jump a fence. This is our first runner for Mr (David) Bobbett, and he has three horses with us."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.