Sport

Mullins just six short of Parkinson's amateur record after double

RACING: Glens Melody did no more than would be expected of an 8 to 1 on shot when easily landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF…

Fri Dec 07 2012 - 00:00

RACING:Glens Melody did no more than would be expected of an 8 to 1 on shot when easily landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

In front from two out under Patrick Mullins, the well-bred star performer in bumpers drew clear on the run-in to beat front-runner Moyas Charm by six and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: “She did it nicely. She’s a nice relaxed mare. We’ll try and find a winners event at Christmas or after that.”

Patrick is chasing a record amount of winners in a calendar year for an amateur rider and he needs just six more to beat a record set around 100 years ago by Billy Parkinson – a relation of the recently departed Tony Sweeney – after Ballycasey’s win in the last.

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He may have drifted markedly in the ring (2 to 5 to 4 to 6) before the maiden hurdle but that made no difference to Ballycasey as he brought up a double for Willie and Patrick with a good jump two out to beat Noble Pageant by seven lengths.

“The Dorans Pride at Limerick is a possibility now. He’s a chaser in the making but he’ll stay hurdling this season,” said Mullins of the Susannah Ricci-owned former pointer and bumper winner.

Trainer Mullins was unlucky not to complete a treble when Cadspeed fell at the last leaving Dream Function a fortunate winner on her first start for Colm Murphy.

The mare looked a smart novice hurdler for Philip Hobbs before pulling up at Newbury last November and was sent off a 6 to 1 chance on her fencing debut in the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase.

But it was a race full of drama, with The Real Article crashing out early and Cadspeed coming down at the last with the race seemingly in safe keeping.

Dream Function was the main beneficiary, coasting home 12 lengths clear of Mazuri Cowboy in the hands of Robbie Power.

Daryl Jacob was handed a 10-day ban by the Wincanton stewards yesterday for failing to ride out to the line on Ulis De Vassy in the Racing Welfare Fox-Pitt Eventing Handicap Hurdle.

Jacob is set to miss the lucrative Christmas period, where he could have expected to be riding plenty of top-class horses for Paul Nicholls, who employs him as second jockey to Ruby Walsh.