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Cork report: Mister Policeman claims poignant success
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 20 Apr 2025
Mister Policeman provided Willie Mullins with a fourth straight victory in the Michael O’Sullivan Chase at Cork.
Melon, Bachasson and the returning Asterion Forlonge had given the champion trainer a recent hat-trick in the Grade Three contest, with the latter a 4-5 favourite to successfully defend his crown.
Asterion Forlonge set out to make the running and was still in a narrow lead when blundering at the penultimate fence and catapulting Sean O’Keeffe out of the saddle, leaving his stablemate Mister Policeman and Fil Dor to fight it out.
Fil Dor, turning out just a fortnight after being pulled up in the Grand National at Aintree, had pressed Asterion Forlonge for much of the way though and having been ridden with a little more restraint by J J Slevin, 7-2 chance Mister Policeman had more to give late on, with seven lengths separating the pair at the line.
Slevin, winning in the famous colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci for the first time, said: “It is nice to win a race named in memory of Michael O’Sullivan and Janna (Walsh), who led Mister Policeman up, is Michael’s cousin and this horse was his first winner for Willie.
“Willie said to ride him for speed as he thought he was a quick horse, so I had one go at them and he just came alive. It was only a matter of getting over the last fence and he was very impressive. The minute I got my leg into him, it was all over.
“He obviously won his first few races quite well but was pulled up in a Galway Plate and at Punchestown last year, but might be back on track now.
“This is my first ride in these colours and it is great to be asked to ride for these people. Any time jockeys put on those colours you have a chance and fair play to Closutton for putting me up.”
Mullins, speaking from Fairyhouse, said: “Two years ago at the same race meeting Michael rode Mister Policeman to win a hurdle which was his first winner for us, which is uncanny as the same horse wins the race named after him.
“We all know how good Michael could have been and was going to be.”
Trainer Andrew Slattery is considering a step up to Grade One level for Smooth Tom (100-30) following his comprehensive victory in the Bar One Racing Hurdle.
“He was placed in the Irish Lincolnshire twice and the reason that race suits is that he goes on any ground, but he wouldn’t have any chance over a mile on good ground,” said Slattery.
“I had a mad idea of entering him in the Chester Cup (but didn’t). Padraig (O’Rourke, owner) is from the Punchestown area so we could also supplement him for the Champion Hurdle there. We’ll see what happens but if there’s only five runners, why not?
“I was thinking of the Galway Hurdle for him last year but I have his sister Royal Hollow for that. That’s her aim but we could run both – they are grand horses to have.”
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