The Shunter's trainer strikes again as Tashkhan is backed from 25-1 into 9-2

Trainer Emmet Mullins, just over a week after The Shunter landed a £100,000 bonus for connections by winning the Paddy Power Plate at Cheltenham, landed another nice touch as handicap debutant Tashkhan was a convincing winner of the 1m2f handicap.

The son of Born To Sea was backed from 25-1 early this morning to 9-2 second favourite, despite being well beaten in three Dundalk maidens late last year, the most recent of which saw him finish a 15-length seventh of 14 at 200-1.

In this race, his rider Ross Coakley had him towards the head of the field for most of the way. He looked in some trouble early in the straight but eventually got on top inside the final furlong for a three-and-a-quarter length victory over Sassified.

Watch: Tashkhan land another gamble for the Emmet Mullins yard

"I would say getting gelded has made a big difference to him and he definitely has his mind more on the job," said Mullins.

He added: "You could see that Ross was rowing away on him a long way out but he just kept galloping. Being by Born To Sea, the ground was a big help to him too.

"He seems to be getting a few nice jumpers and down the line I can see him making into a nice three-year-old hurdler. We'll stick to three-year-old handicaps for now and he can step up in trip too."

Dunne lands a touch of his own

An even bigger plunge came in the first division of the 1m5f handicap when reserve All Class, available at 66-1 overnight, was backed down to 9-2 after getting into the contest, and won accordingly for Ratoath trainer David Dunne and rider Nathan Crosse.

It was never really in doubt once All Class got to the front a furlong out and stayed on strongly to beat Crassus by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Dunne smiled behind his face-covering when asked if he was on at big prices. "We fancied her," he said. He added: "My horses have been running well and this filly has worked well with my good horse Department Of War. She's a very difficult filly. She had to come today with a companion, but we've learned how to handle her."

Asked when he knew when the filly would get a run, he said: "At nine o'clock this morning. I said a prayer to get in!"

The stewards questioned the trainer about the very strong market support and having considered the evidence, referred the matter to the CEO of the IHRB for further investigation.

Killeen bows out

Navan racecourse manager Peter Killeen took charge of his final meeting at Proudstown Park on Saturday having been at the helm since June 2014.

Killeen retires next week after a 40-year career in Irish racing which began at the old Racing Board in December 1980.

Before receiving a presentation organised by Bernard Caldwell of the Irish Stable Staff Association, Killeen said: "My time here has absolutely flown by. I have met some fantastic people in a game full of characters and I have no regrets. I am looking forward now to becoming a regular racegoer."

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