'I can't wait to see him go chasing' - Willie and Patrick Mullins bag first Bangor winner with Fine Margin
Willie Mullins added Bangor to his ever-growing list of successful British racecourses on Friday as Fine Margin won the opening 2m3½f novices’ hurdle.
The seven-year-old, whose last two successes came at Fontwell and Worcester, defied a 12lb penalty to win by a length.
His victory gave the boss of Closutton a fourth British jumps winner of the season from just six runners, all of whom have been ridden by Patrick Mullins.
“The last day, there was no pace on so I ended up going on, but today there was a good gallop and we were flat out all the way,” the winning rider told Sky Sports. “I probably ended up getting there a bit too soon and he idled a bit when he hit the front, but he kept going.
“The ground was probably as fast as he wants it even though he wants good ground.”
Fine Margin has been a regular on these shores since his switch to Mullins ahead of the 2023-24 season, having notably finished second in the valuable Betfair Serial Winners Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in November.
The run of races in Britain is set to continue for Fine Margin, as Patrick Mullins added: “I bought this horse for his owner Pete Davies and he asked me to find him a horse that wouldn’t cost loads.
“He was closer to four figures than six, so he’s done very well, and I can’t wait to see him go chasing.
“He’ll go to Worcester first for the final he qualified for the other day, so there’ll hopefully be some more nice days with him.”
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