HARLEM HEROICS

Man from uncle Danny Mullins rides home maestro's autumn first

- BY ALAN MAGEE

WINTER is coming and that means Willie Mullins is back in the winners’ enclosure.

The first major jumps race of the autumn, the €200,000 Guinness Kerry National, had a familiar feel to it at Listowel yesterday as the Mullins-trained Spanish Harlem grabbed the glory under his nephew Danny.

It was the Closutton maestros fourth win in the Harvest Festival highlight.

Mullins’ more fancied You Oughta Know, who went off 9-2 favourite for Paul Townend, took a fall six out and his lack of experience proved costly, whereas his stablemate had built up a solid profile having been placed in a Grand National trial at Punchestown and the bet365 Gold Cup earlier this year.

Danny Mullins never missed a beat on the winner, who was hassled throughout for the lead with Joseph O'Brien's San Salvador still appearing to be full of running when he exited at the third-last obstacle.