Comfort Line sets up Irish Cambridgeshire bid this weekend after return to form

Thursday: Navan

Mick Mulvany has never been afraid to campaign his horses boldly and he will bid to strike while the iron is hot with Comfort Line in Saturday's Irish Cambridgeshire, after the five-year-old confirmed his wellbeing with a smart handicap success at Navan on Thursday.

It was an overdue victory for the useful handicapper, who was 0-22 since his last win in October 2020, but he did show promise when runner-up in the Irish Lincolnshire earlier this season.

Mulvany, who will also be represented in Saturday's Paddy Power-backed feature by Big Baby Bull, cited a falling mark and the reapplication of cheekpieces as factors that sparked the improved display from the 16-1 shot.

"The handicapper gave him a bit of a chance by dropping him a few pounds," said Mulvany, referring to Comfort Line's lowest mark since July 2020.

Mick Mulvany (right) on Comfort Line: 'He was coming back to form and, all being well, he'll run in the Cambridgeshire'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I was a bit disappointed last time at Galway when he had an outside draw and didn't get a chance. He was coming back to form and, all being well, he'll run in the Cambridgeshire."

Mulvany added: "I used the cheekpieces on him in the Lincoln earlier this year and had been kind of saving them until he was back where I thought he'd be. I hope he'll run a big race on Saturday."

Lee continues championship challenge with 239-1 treble

Billy Lee drew level with Colin Keane on 70 winners in the jockeys' championship after a 239-1 treble for the title challenger and one winner for the champion.

Listed-bound juvenile Sioux Spirit, trained by Ken Condon, opened her account decisively at the third attempt in the 5f maiden at 6-4, before promising Godolphin homebred Marcher Lord made a winning debut in the mile maiden at 11-1.

The latter was a welcome winner for trainer Willie McCreery after the sudden death of his brother Tom on Sunday.

Lee's easiest winner of the afternoon came aboard the Charles Byrnes-trained Imperial Choice, who scored by five lengths for the delighted Come Home Sober Syndicate.

Imperial Choice: off the mark on the Flat at the 12th time of askingCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She won well," Byrnes said of the 7-1 winner. "She had kind of fallen out of the stalls the last couple of days but on this galloping track she had a chance to get into it.

"She's owned by a syndicate local to myself and Billy, and is entered for Clonmel next Thursday. We'll probably keep her going for there now."

Reigning champion Keane was seen at his best in the opening 5½f maiden aboard Beauty Crescent for Ger Lyons. Having looked booked for second behind Congo River inside the final furlong, the 10-11 favourite traded at 99-1 in-running before powering home to register an unlikely win by a neck.

Well-backed Scholar shines on handicap bow

Market support for handicap debutant Our Scholar proved well founded after the Johnny Murtagh-trained three-year-old left his modest maiden form behind to win on his first start since being gelded.

Bred to stay well, the mount of Ben Coen relished stepping up in trip and scored at 4-1, having been available at 20-1 in the early markets.

Results, replays and analysis

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