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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Mullins boots home his second winner on the card

Sun 22nd Jan 2023, 16:16

Danny Mullins drives Hey Johnny homeDanny Mullins drives Hey Johnny home
© Photo Healy Racing

Danny Mullins completed his Thurles double aboard Hey Johnny in the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding held an ideal position in second behind Zoffanien and worked his way into the lead before two out where he made a slight mistake. Popova attempted to make a race of it, but was outgunned on the run-in by Hey Johnny who hit the line two and a quarter lengths to the good.

This made it six winning favourites in a row in Thurles as Hey Johnny scored at 7/4 from the 5/1 runner-up.

Trainer Tom Mullins said: "I was finding it hard to get him fit at home so I ran him in a graded race the last day and the whole idea was I was hoping he might get a little penalty to go for the Dublin Racing Festival. I had my eye on the two-mile handicap hurdle at the DRF since Christmas. It has worked out today as he won his race, will have his penalty so will get in.

"He was a strange ride and we had to do that today as we didn't want to risk him falling asleep out the back. Danny said he will be away and alright in a big field, so we'll drop him in the next day.

"He's a half-brother to Sir Gerhard, so hopefully will continue to progress."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.