Kerry National result: Willie & Danny Mullins secure repeat victory

For the second year in a row, the Kerry National was won by Willie and Danny Mullins. Last year it was Spanish Harlem, but this time it was Ballygunner Castle who roared to victory for the Closutton duo.

The 11/1 shot had been tailed off in the Galway Plate, but stayed on too strongly for his rivals to record an ultimately comfortable success in the Listowel Harvest Festival feature. It marked a belated first chase victory for the seven-year-old and a fourth career success in all.

Despite making an early jumping error, Ballygunner Castle was settled in contention throughout. The front-running Doctor Ken gave him a long tow into the race and initially appeared to travel better into the home straight for a pillar-to-post victory.

However, Mullins had saved more aboard his mount, cajoling him to lead at the second last. His mount responded kindly for pressure to extend his lead on the Listowel run-in, with Ol’ Man Dingle running on into second, favourite Downmexicoway in third and Doctor Ken fading to fourth.

Mullins’ the men again at Listowel

It has been a successful week, as many would expect, for Willie Mullins’ team. The yard sent out three winners on Sunday, sent Love Me Tender to the top of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting earlier on Wednesday, then went back-to-back in the Kerry National.

Stablemates Spread Boss Ted, Funiculi Funciula and King Alexander had all won races that Ballygunner Castle had contested on his last three starts. Such is the genius of Mullins that this time it was his go into the winners’ enclosure.

Danny Mullins had partnered him in all of those races. He too is so often the able deputy, but will no doubt delight in this second successive win in one of the early jumps season’s biggest prizes.

Eoin Griffin was denied an underdog win with Ol Man Dingle, but will be proud of his charge’s runner-up effort. There were disappointments in the race though, with second favourite Nowwhatdoyouthink unseen at the finish for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy, while Funiculi Funicula, who Paul Townend stuck with for Mullins, was also out of the frame.