TRAINER Willie Mullins had a smile as wide as a barn door at Down Royal yesterday after his three-year-old Temlett had won the Specsavers Ulster Derby by half a length from Song of Hiawatha.

This was Mullins' second success in Ulster's richest flat race and it came after Temlett had battled all the way with Song of Hiawatha, who was ridden by former champion jockey Kieren Fallon.

Temlett had lead throughout under Chris Hayes but looked like being caught on the turn for home as the dogged Fallon kept after him.

Hiawatha did draw level and it appeared for an instant as though Fallon's horse would do the business.

However, Hayes got to work again on Temlett, who went on to win with a certain degree of ease.

Mullins said afterwards:

"The last time I won the Ulster Derby was in the last century. That was General Cloney in 1990. I thought Temlett had a big chance in this race. . . his record is a good one.

"The owner is here today and he is from America. He is a banker from Boston but he has lived in London for the past ten years."

The man in question, Richie Ricci, said: "Thie is the biggest win of my career and I have never been at Down Royal before. Will (Mullins) has done a tremendous job and that's three in a row for Temlett. You couldn't wish for better and I'm delighted to be among Irish friends."

Mullins added that he had the horse two years after it had been bought at the Goff Million Sales and the plan now was to go for the Guinness Handicap over a mile and a half at the Galway Festival.

Earlier yesterday jockey Fran Berry landed a double when Billy Ford had won the opener and then the second race was won by Desert Al, giving trainer Owen Weldon his first winner for four years.

It was almost a treble for Berry. Rain Rush made all the running in the next race and was only beaten by a head by Lend a Grand, ironically a stable mate of the runner-up.