Henry de Bromhead has farmed recent renewals of the Doc’s Bumper point-to-point flat race in recent years and the 2021 edition was not different as Journey With Me impressed with a dominant display from the front.
Making virtually all of the running the five-year-old was sent off as the warm odds-on favourite following a 12-length victory on his one and only outing for Mick Murphy at Ballindenisk in November and his supporters never had a moments worry.
Pulling clear after passing the five-furlong mark, both The Higher Road and Chato Santana began to pay the price for trying to live with the winning son of Mahler, and it was soon Galudon, who had finished fourth on his point debut at the same Ballindenisk card back in November that emerged from the pack as the potential challenger.
However although Derek O’Connor’s mount was able to close slightly on the 4/7 favourite in the home straight, Patrick Mullins remained full of confidence and never had to ask a question of his charge as they ultimately extended on 13 lengths clear at the line.
Galudon offered some promise in second whilst Golden Bidar came through to take the third spot, albeit some 47 lengths behind the runner-up as the field returned at long intervals in the heavy ground.
Journey With Me was sporting the colours of Brian Acheson’s Robcour, silks that were carried to victory a year earlier by the leading Cheltenham Festival contender Bob Olinger, with de Bromhead having also won the 2019 edition with Minella Melody.
For winning rider Patrick Mullins it was a fourth straight victory in the race following the success of Derby for his father Willie a year earlier.
