Tag Archive for: El Fabiolo

El Fabiolo strolls to victory to follow up Arkle success

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El Fabiolo maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a bloodless victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The winner of the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown in February before downing Jonbon and justifying favouritism in the Cheltenham Festival equivalent, Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was sent off the 1-4 favourite to complete his novice chasing campaign in style.

Prone to hitting the odd fence, El Fabiolo got his jumping errors out the way early on this occasion before producing a professional round of fencing and he travelled smoothly in second in the hands of Paul Townend as Dysart Dynamo cut his usual bold sight from the front under Danny Mullins.

In a matter of strides El Fabiolo breezed alongside his stablemate approaching the second last and the result was soon a simple formality as having picked off Dysart Dynamo with ease, Townend kicked clear on the run to the last before coasting home for a facile 11-length success.

Mullins has now won this Grade One contest eight years in a row, while this was his 10th victory overall in the two mile event.

Meanwhile the performance from El Fabiolo was enough for the gelding to be made Betfair’s 6-4 favourite for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“I was wondering about four out had Danny stole a march but Paul said the minute he pulled his lad out and said go he just lit up underneath him,” said Mullins.

“He was a bit ring rusty over the first few fences.

“He looks all over a two-miler. He can go up in trip and I’d have no problem going two and a half as he’s nice and relaxed.

El Fabiolo and connections after the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
El Fabiolo and connections after the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (PA)

“He’s improving all the time but the way he does things over two miles he may stay at that. Paul is all the time pulling him back to keep the lid on him.”

On Dysart Dynamo, he added: “Dysart Dynamo doesn’t know when to give up and that might even be his downfall. It was great to see him getting up at Cheltenham, he got a horrendous fall but he got up, shook himself and he’s been fine since.”

Mullins trains 16 horses for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and all 15 that have run this season for the Closutton handler have found the scoresheet. The final horse, Readin Tommy Wrong, will attempt to complete the clean sweep when he is due to run at Ballinrobe next Tuesday.

Mullins, who earlier won the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase with 11-4 favourite Dinoblue and the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time with Klassical Dream (3-1 joint-favourite), made it four for the day when Ballyburn (10-11 favourite) won the JP & M Doyle (C & G) Flat Race impressively.

“It was a real good performance. Once again he pulled very hard but once Patrick (Mullins) got him down to gallop he picked up well,” said Mullins.

“To run away from a nice field of bumper horses, that’s nice for Ronnie (Bartlett, joint owner with football agent David Manasseh) for next season.”

El Fabiolo looking to round off superb campaign in style

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El Fabiolo bids to put the seal on a flawless campaign in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

Willie Mullins has dominated this two-mile contest over the course of the past decade, saddling eight of the last 10 winners including each of the last seven.

Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Chacun Pour Soi (2019) and Energumene (2021) all landed this prize on their way to even greater things and El Fabiolo is a warm order to add his name to the roll of honour on day three of the County Kildare festival.

The six-year-old, who carries the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede colours of 2018 victor Footpad and last year’s hero Blue Lord, is three from three over fences this season and is out to complete a Grade One hat-trick after winning the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown and the Arkle at Cheltenham.

“El Fabiolo looks like he could be the real deal and could be the one contending for championship honours next year,” said Mullins.

“We just hope we can keep him right, keep him sound. The type of performance he put in was fantastic. He’s a real nice prospect to have in the yard for next season.”

El Fabiolo is set to face just three rivals, including a couple of fellow Closutton inmates in Dysart Dynamo and Saint Roi.

Dysart Dynamo looked booked for minor honours when falling at the final fence in the Arkle at Cheltenham, a race in which Saint Roi finished third before going on to fill the runner-up spot in in another Grade One at Aintree a fortnight ago.

Dysart Dynamo in action at Cheltenham
Dysart Dynamo in action at Cheltenham (David Davies/Jockey Club)

Mullins added: “Dysart Dynamo can be his own worst enemy, but a lot of people like that in a horse too – that he’s so exuberant and loves his game.

“I’m hoping he gets older or gets a bit wiser he learns how to settle and temper his enthusiasm, but of course half his ability might be his enthusiasm, especially for two-mile chases.

“He’s always a horse to be afraid of and one day he’ll put it all together and maybe put in a huge performance.

“Saint Roi seems to have come back fine from Aintree and we might roll the dice and let him take his chance. It’s a big prize and he won’t be doing anything else after this.”

The field is completed by Mouse Morris-trained outsider Indiana Jones.

El Fabiolo sees off old rival Jonbon for Arkle glory

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El Fabiolo got the better of Jonbon in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy, to get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off the mark at the Cheltenham Festival.

The duo fought out a titanic battle over hurdles at Aintree last season and the rematch was just as entertaining, with the main protagonists coming to the fore in the closing stages.

Dysart Dynamo took up his customary position setting the pace at the head of proceedings, with both Aidan Coleman aboard Jonbon and Townend on El Fabiolo content to stalk the front-runner as Danny Mullins led the field along with his usual zest.

Jonbon crept on Dysart Dynamo’s tail heading down country to three out and was soon angled out to press the Closutton second string. But Townend bided his time aboard the 11-10 favourite, only moving El Fabiolo into contention rounding the home bend.

From then the powerhouse clash all at Prestbury Park had been waiting for ensued as the big three matched strides from two out to the last and when Dysart Dynamo fell at the final fence, El Fabiolo was still full of running and confirmed the promise of his hugely impressive performance from the Dublin Racing Festival.

He was five and a half lengths clear of Nicky Henderson’s 2-1 second-favourite at the line, with Closutton stablemate Saint Roi staying on to pick up third at 11-1.

El Fabiolo and jockey Paul Townend return to the winner's enclosure
El Fabiolo and jockey Paul Townend return to the winner’s enclosure (Tim Goode/PA)

Mullins said: “He travelled as well as I was hoping the whole way. Paul said he hit a flat spot down the back but then when he picked him up, he came alive under him.

“I didn’t watch the finish as I was trying to watch our other horse who had fallen, but thankfully he’s OK.

“It’s good to get on the board early in the day. It was a bit of a worry at the last but I thought, all being well, it looked like he had enough in reserve at that stage.

“He has a habit of brushing through the top of his fences but it is not something we are practicing! Like a lot of French horses, he can find a fifth leg due to all the schooling they do early in their careers.

“I’m not looking to up him in trip yet, I always think if a horse is comfortable at two miles they are easier to train and keep sound, so I’m hoping he’s a Champion Chase horse for next year.”

Townend added: “I was half afraid Danny (Mullins, on Dysart Dynamo) was getting a bit of a freebie at one stage and Danny is very dangerous from the front. At the same time Dysart likes to get on with it and wasn’t giving Danny an easy time.

“The ground is testing and it’s taking a bit of getting. When I was left on my own I got a little idle down the back, but when I wanted him to race he came alive for me.

“He’s not the most natural of jumpers at every fence, but he knows where his feet are and he gets away with it.

“He was brave to go down the inner at two out and there wasn’t a whole lot there at the last, but again he found his feet at the back of it and he galloped to the top of that hill on the ground, which is a good sign.”

Jonbon in Arkle action
Jonbon in Arkle action (Tim Goode/PA)

Henderson felt the Cheltenham ground had slightly gone against Jonbon.

He said: “I’ve always said and felt he’d be better on better ground – he gallops like that.

“He’s done nothing wrong. He came to have a crack at it. We were tracking Dysart Dynamo and I’m glad to see he’s OK, which is important. We got him, but the other fellow was doing the same to us.”

When asked whether Jonbon is now likely to step up in trip, the trainer added: “Definitely. I think he’d go as far as you like on good ground.

“We’ll definitely look at Aintree. I don’t think you’d go to three miles, but you’d certainly go two and a half. Aintree is the one place you want to step them all up half a mile.

“All being well, the others will stay in Ireland and we’ll go to Aintree.”

Jonbon aiming to maintain family honour in Arkle

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Jonbon gets the chance to emulate his brother Douvan and land the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy when he takes on El Fabiolo in a powerhouse clash on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The duo fought out a thriller over hurdles at Aintree last year, where Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old prevailed by a neck to gain compensation for his annihilation at the hands of Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a few weeks prior.

That Prestbury Park reversal remains Jonbon’s sole defeat and he quickly shot to the top of the Arkle betting with an ultra-professional display on chasing debut at Warwick.

A first Grade One over the larger obstacles quickly followed when taking the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in fine fashion before returning to Warwick to add the Kingmaker to his CV last month.

Although far from perfect in that two-runner tune-up mission, Henderson admits he left plenty to work on and believes the guaranteed hot pace of the Arkle will play to his charge’s strengths.

“We’re looking at Warwick as a good wake up call for him, he’ll be sharper for it,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“He had a good blow and while he looked fantastically well, he looked ready to go to the show ring – not the racecourse – and I think he just needed it more than he anticipated it.

“It wasn’t pretty to watch. He did jump very well and eventually he quickened up and he’s done it nicely – as he ought to have done to be fair, as he should have beaten that horse (Calico) comfortably.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and Jonbon during a visit to Nicky Henderson’s stables at Seven Barrows in Lambourn
Trainer Nicky Henderson and Jonbon during a visit to Nicky Henderson’s stables at Seven Barrows in Lambourn (David Davies/PA)

“They’ll go a good gallop in the Arkle and that should suit him. That’s why I was keen for him to get a lead (at Warwick).

“He’s up there with my other Arkle winners. I know Constitution Hill beat him quite a long way, but other than that he’s been very good.”

Douvan famously sauntered to a seven-length success over future Gold Cup winner Sizing John in 2016 but the Henderson-trained sibling might not find things so easy as he takes on the might of Closutton.

Willie Mullins’ challenge is headed by impressive Irish Arkle winner El Fabiolo, who although only 9-2 in the betting at Leopardstown was the only runner able to keep up with the breakneck fractions set by Danny Mullins aboard Dysart Dynamo and pulled 10 lengths clear of the opposition at the finish.

He now has a familiar foe to reverse form with, but Mullins feels he has every chance of turning the tables.

He said: “El Fabiolo did everything right (at Leopardstown) and his run against Jonbon last year puts him right in the picture, I think.

“It was only his second run for us and Jonbon was in his own backyard, whereas we had to travel over to England, so he goes there with a huge chance.”

Saint Roi ridden by jockey Mark Walsh (left) wins the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown
Saint Roi ridden by jockey Mark Walsh (left) wins the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Dysart Dynamo is engaged once again and is sure to be leading the field at speed, while former County Hurdle winner and last year’s Champion Hurdle third Saint Roi is another for the Closutton squad.

The Mullins quartet is complete by Ha D’or, while Gordon Elliott’s Hollow Games and Cian Collins’ likeable mare Effernock Fizz are others making the trip from Ireland.

Sheila Lewis’ course-and-distance winner Straw Fan Jack returns from a 109-day absence to take his chance at Grade One level with Samuel Drinkwater’s Chepstow winner Ballybreeze the likely outsider of nine.

‘Rusty’ Jonbon stays unbeaten over fences in Kingmaker at Warwick

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Jonbon was replaced as Arkle favourite, despite maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

Sent off at 1-16 to beat just one rival – Dan Skelton’s Calico – following the morning withdrawal of two others, his trademark zip appeared to be missing at times.

Aidan Coleman sent Nicky Henderson’s charge into an early lead and while he was doing things easily enough, he was not getting away from Calico.

Halfway down the back straight Harry Skelton sensed an opportunity and sent Calico up Jonbon’s inside, met the next fence on a perfect stride and soon found himself three lengths clear.

It took Jonbon a couple of fences to realise he had a race on his hands and Coleman was happy to challenge around Calico’s outside on the final bend.

Once in front the race was never in doubt, but was rather workmanlike in winning by five and a half lengths.

He was pushed out by the bookmakers for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair going 2-1 from 11-8 and making Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo their 11-10 favourite. Coral make El Fabiolo their 5-4 favourite from 7-4, with Jonbon out to 13-8 from even money.

“It was a prep run and we knew we had plenty to work on,” said Coleman.

“We schooled him the other morning and he schooled very well, but he was very fresh.

“He jumped super again there, I was just coming down to that fence there and we were going an honest gallop and I didn’t want to be pressing on too much considering it’s a trial. Harry set his alight and winged it and although he didn’t make a mistake, Harry got going and I was somewhat chasing him a little.

“But I was always quite confident from three-quarters of a mile out – I met the next three fences well and put it to bed well. He was probably a bit rusty, but he won well on the line and I was happy with him.

“It’s the exact same thing (as Haydock last year). We’re coming here with something to work on and not trained for this in particular. Look, he came here ready to win and we were sweet on him, but it is a trial for the Arkle and that’s why we are here. It was the exact same in Haydock last year.

“He likes good ground and he was fine on it. I was very happy with him. It was still a good performance and he got the job done.”

On shifting right at his fences he added: “He only did it once and that happens a lot at that third one away from the stands. You’re coming into it on a bend and he was a bit right there.

“It probably looks somewhat worse than it was and when you straighten up you have to get him back on the near lead and get him going forward. The odd time he can shimmy left, he’s just a very clever and accurate and sometimes he does just adjust one way.”

Henderson was at Newbury, where he said: “I’m going to look on the bright side. Because he’s had such easy races I think he got taken by surprise when the other horse attacked him.

“He just sort of shook his head. It will do him no harm as he hasn’t had a race since Aintree last year. I’m going to look on the bright side.

“That was his prep and by the looks it shook him a little bit, but I’ll talk to Aidan.”

Jonbon now has a few questions to answer
Jonbon now has a few questions to answer (Steven Paston/PA)

Sir Anthony McCoy, representing winning owner JP McManus, said: “They’re all contenders and we’ll have to see, but he’s trained by a man who knows more about training horses like that than I do.

“He was happy with him and you would imagine he is looking at March and not today. I would say he was just ready to have a run – he looked a bit rusty. The Arkle is in March, not today.

“He isn’t going to win an Arkle running like that, but that isn’t the Arkle. I wasn’t worried watching him and he actually won quite well in the end.

“He’s grand, he won and he will have learnt a little bit more from that today.

“The Arkle will be different and he will need to be sharper than that, but the man who trains him knows what he’s doing and you’re just going to let him get on with doing his thing.

“March is what he’s being trained for.”

El Fabiolo just fabulous under Daryl Jacob in Irish Arkle.

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Daryl Jacob gave El Fabiolo a perfect ride to win the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown for Willie Mullins.

Mullins held an enviable hand in race with Appreciate It, Dysart Dynamo, Flame Bearer and Saint Roi giving the champion trainer a stranglehold on the Grade One.

The Mullins camp all seemed to side with Appreciate It, with Paul Townend making him his selection after two faultless victories over fences.

But the nine-year-old, who has missed so much time with various injuries, found younger legs too much to handle in a contest that was run at a ferocious pace.

That was set by Danny Mullins on Dysart Dynamo and after only four fences good horses like Fil Dor and Visionarian were a long way behind.

El Fabiolo (9-2) did make a bad mistake three from home, but Jacob allowed him time to get back into his rhythm and by the second-last he was in pole position.

As he began to pull away, Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge began to stay on strongly and he eventually got by Appreciate It and Dysart Dynamo to finish second, but some 10 lengths away.

The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned winner went down narrowly to Jonbon over hurdles at Aintree last season and those two now dominate the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair making Jonbon their 13-8 favourite ahead of El Fabiolo at 2-1 (from 7s).

“He’s just improving all the time. At the start of the year we were thinking maybe we should go out to two and a half (miles), but what he did at Christmas and again today it’s definitely the Arkle,” said Mullins.

El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock
El Fabiolo was still full of beans on returning to the paddock (Donall Farmer/PA)

“You could see every horse had a chance at different stages of the race. The one negative (was) when we made the mistake, but Daryl blamed himself for that, he said it wasn’t the horse’s fault.

“Then he came back on the bridle again and I thought ‘this horse is travelling’ and he just did everything right.

“Some very good horses were second, third and fourth so to win 10 lengths in that type of a race, he’s goes to Cheltenham with a real good chance.”

Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob
Simon Munir greets Daryl Jacob (Gary Carson/PA)

On the owners he added: “They both (Munir and Souede) have a great appetite for the game and enjoy it. They both travelled a long way to be here at the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend so it’s fantastic that they’ve had a Grade One winner.”

Munir said: “I was very impressed. It’s only the sixth run of his life, so we don’t really know how good he is.

“We’re on a roll at the moment, but it’s still a long long season.”

Souede said: “We were very excited and we actually think the best is yet to come with this horse because he’s not that experienced.”