IRISH RACING: Quite a few trainers on the other side of the Irish Sea might be lying low this morning after Adamant Approach filled a rare big-race gap for Willie Mullins in Leopardstown's Pierse Hurdle.
Paddy Mullins twice landed the first big pot of the year with Redundant Pal in 1989-90 and there was no disguising his son's pleasure at picking up the €78,650 first prize yesterday. However, even just minutes after Adamant Approach's length and a half defeat of Native Scout, Mullins was typically clear thinking in his analysis of how his British colleagues might have blown a glorious opportunity.
Not one horse travelled from Britain from the race, and considering Adamant Approach had run only third in a big race at Ascot last month, Mullins's conviction that last autumn's general weights re-alignment has put Irish horses at a disadvantage appears to gain even more credence.
"I don't think we're well treated against the English horses and I think today's race proves it. I'd say we're even 10 to 15 lengths off the English handicapped horses.
"I thought my fella was well handicapped when he went for a good race in the North in November and I couldn't believe how far ahead the English horses were. There is definitely an imbalance there," Mullins said.
Ruby Walsh coolly made ground up the inner on the 8 to 1 third favourite, as Bob Justice cut out the running, and had enough horse underneath him to switch as the gambled-on Janidou took it up in the straight.
Adamant Approach even had enough to overcome an awkward jump at the last, and the performance led to Cashmans halving his Supreme Novices' Hurdle price to 10 to 1.
"The plan is the Supreme," Mullins confirmed for a horse that was a hugely regarded bumper performer but had finished runner-up in four of his previous 10 starts.
The fast-finishing Native Scout also had his Supreme price halved to 14 to 1, but the race was a disappointment for the big public gamble Doonaree, who struggled home in eighth.
It was Walsh's lucky day, as he took advantage of Born Flyer's last-flight fall in the following race to win on Cailin's Perk, but the jockey had to settle for second in the Leopardstown Chase on Rince Ri.
Despite topweight, Rince Ri was a well backed favourite and looked a likely winner two out as Lyreen Wonder continued to cut out the pace. However, Lyreen Wonder kept finding for his regular rider, Barry Cash, and in a dour struggle got home by three lengths.
"That's one of the rides of the season. The jockey was superb," said Arthur Moore, who will aim Lyreen Wonder at the Aintree Grand National, for which he is a 33 to 1 shot.
Moore had earlier picked up the opener with the Tote Gold Trophy candidate The Gatherer. The Naas trainer later made it a treble with the easy handicap winner Farinel.
Silver Steel took a horrible fall at Christmas in the race won by Give Over but this time it was the turn of Give Over to exit, unseating Conor O'Dwyer at the first.
In contrast, Silver Steel jumped well under the amateur Alan Crowe to make most in the novice chase and trainer Christy Roche was quick to praise the horse's courage and the rider's talent.
Kicking King got a 16 to 1 quote for the Festival Bumper after making an impressive winning debut in the last.
However, trainer Tom Taaffe reported a final decision regarding the Cheltenham race has not been made.
