The news that horse racing in Ireland was to be suspended until April 19 came through shortly after Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined to win the conditions’ chase with the likeable nine-year-old Bachasson at Clonmel on Thursday.
In the well-known colours of Glanmire owner Edward O’Connell, he was sent off the 4/6 favourite and came home an easy 12-length winner from Death Duty.
Townend commented afterwards, “He’s a really quick jumper and he makes lengths everywhere which was a help. It’s not something you want to interfere with, you just let him go and do it. He winged the first and after that he was great.”
Jody Townend was in the saddle as the champion trainer completed a double. Patrick Mullins elected to ride Kilcruit, trained by his uncle Tony and owned by his grandmother Maureen, and he finished second to his father’s Captain Kangaroo which got the front over a furlong out and came home a cosy four-length winner.
The successful rider said, “I’ve sat on him a few times at home and he was working well. He was very good and got me there in a few strides. He surprised me and he’s very nice.”
Ask Heather and Simon Torrens gave Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O’Brien a Clonmel winner when scoring by a length and a quarter in the opportunity handicap chase. The eight-year-old came from well of the pace to lead at the second last fence where she was slightly wrong. The 15/2 shot jumped a little to her left at the final obstacle, but picked up well to account for the Gordon Elliott-trained 100/30 favourite Robin Deuz Pois.
