'He gave Kieran a great spin' - Callaghan bounces back with Captain Kangaroo

Sunday: Cork

Three months had passed but Willie Mullins had not forgotten.

The last time the champion trainer had 7lb claimer Kieran Callaghan jocked up at Cork was when he nominated him to replace the injured Paul Townend on Stratum in a conditions hurdle at the beginning of August.

The stewards knocked back the request as he was not deemed to be a like-for-like replacement, and rather than nominate another rider, Mullins withdrew the horse.

The champion trainer felt he made a point when Callaghan partnered Captain Kangaroo to a fine staying victory in the Paddy Power Cork Grand National.

"He is good enough to replace any rider I have and he proved it today," said Mullins.

It was a victory that gave Mullins a great deal of satisfaction for more reasons than one. The horse had been much derided, having been good enough to beat Kilcruit in a bumper in March 2020, but had been a byword for frustration and disappointment since.

This test of stamina on heavy ground was ideal though, as he accounted for Defi Bleu and stablemate Recite A Prayer by upwards of two and a quarter lengths.

Mullins added: "He gave Kieran a great spin and it's great to see him come right after such a long time without a win. Ground and trip were a big help.

"I have no great plan at the moment but I imagine all of those good staying handicaps will be targets for him."

El Barra repays Townend

Paul Townend rode his first winner back from injury and no other horse could have been more appropriate than Rich Ricci's El Barra in the Paddy Power-sponsored Grade 3 novice chase.

It was his unseat from this horse in the Kerry National at Listowel in September which put the champion jockey out of action for several weeks – and owed him.

He survived a couple of errors but got a good jump at the last to account for front-runner Idas Boy by half a length.

"It was nice to see him do that, Mullins said.

"I thought he might fade after making a mistake two out, but he popped up and galloped to the line. We might go back to handicap company now, although he could go to the Drinmore."

Cromwell bandwagon rolls on

Gavin Cromwell has some talent at his disposal and landed the two maiden hurdles with two promising newcomers.

The JP McManus-owned Inothewayurthinkin justified sustained market support to 7-2 second favourite in landing the opening four-year-old race from the Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Lot Of Joy, and was introduced at 40-1 by Paddy Power for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Completing the double was the Alymer Stud-owned filly La Malmason in the 2m4f contest. Rider Keith Donoghue said: "We were expecting that. She's a very well-bred filly and her work had been very good. We thought she was going to win."

Results, replays and analysis

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