'We'll try to exploit his mark' - Emmet Mullins lands gamble in effortless style

Wednesday: Navan

Emmet Mullins has a well-handicapped horse in Secret Secret and, having won the first division of the 1m6f handicap, he is now considering how to exploit a potentially lenient hurdles mark of 80.

A face full of mud could not mask Dylan Browne McMonagle's smile after he came from nearly last to first in the straight on the well-backed winner, who shortened from 10-1 and was returned at 7-2.

In a race where the leaders went off too hard in front, something coming from off the pace was always likely to go close and Secret Secret went right away to win as though he had joined the race at the furlong pole.

Mullins said: "Dylan said he was as tough as nails and he can't go far enough. They went very quick and I told Dylan he was a keen horse and not to be worried about how far he got out of his ground. In this grade on that ground it would only be a matter of staying going. He just gallops, that's his forte.

"There's not much more for him on the Flat, he has a mark over hurdles and we may try and exploit that too."

Browne McMonagle doubled up in the last when he got the Shane Duffy-trained Molly Kaye up on the line to land the second division.

Bridge trumps rivals

On a day of rain and thunderstorm warnings, there were few punters braving the elements, and even most of the bookmakers had had enough by the end of the fourth race.

However, those that remained though saw a nice performance in the 1m2f handicap from the lightly raced Bridge Of Dawn, who scored at 66-1 for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

Bridge Of Dawn and Kevin Manning en route to victory in the 1m2f handicapCredit: Patrick McCann

In a race in which few were prepared to go forward early, Manning set some steady fractions on the son of Dawn Approach, who was having his first run for 413 days, and when he asked him for a bit more in the straight his mount held off Allihies by half a length.

Manning said: "There has been no racing on that side of the track and it's fresh ground over there. He handled the ground really well and enjoyed it. It’s his first run since being gelded. He was weak last year and he’s still a bit raw but he’s a big, angular horse and will keep strengthening up."

Lee cuts deficit

Billy Lee maintained the momentum in his bid to chase down Colin Keane for the jockeys' title. He partnered his 84th winner of the season to reduce the deficit to one after topweight Mickey The Steel justified 2-1 favouritism for trainer Joe Murray in the 5f handicap.

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