Tag Archive for: Willie Mullins

Mullins mounts strong challenge on Auteuil highlight

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Willie Mullins is preparing for a French foray at Auteuil this weekend as he ponders targeting Galopin Des Champs at the meeting in the future.

The trainer was once again crowned Irish champion for the 2022-23 season, as well as enjoying multiple victories at the major spring festivals.

Though both the Irish and English seasons ended last month and are in a relatively quiet spell as the Flat takes over, there are still significant prizes to be won across the Channel.

This weekend Auteuil hosts the Grand Steeple-Chase De Paris meeting and Mullins is sending a strong squad of nine runners.

Two of those travelling, Franco De Port and Carefully Selected, will contest the ‘Grand Steep’ itself, with other familiar names such as Kilcruit, Haut En Couleurs, Klassical Dream and Asterion Forlonge entered in the supporting events.

Willie Mullins at Punchestown
Willie Mullins at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mullins faces tough opposition in the headline contest as his nephew Emmet Mullins has entered 2022 Grand National hero Noble Yeats, but the race has long been an aim for the Carlow trainer and he is keen to take the trophy home at some point in his career.

“There’s a great challenge from Ireland this year with Noble Yeats, he’s my nephew’s horse and he’s going to put in a big show there,” he said.

“It’s something I want to win, I’ve been trying to look for a horse that’s good enough to win it.

“I should have probably targeted it before now because I have so many French horses,  I’m just going through my runners here and seven out of the nine horses are French.

“I should have done this before, however, we’ve always concentrated on Cheltenham and Punchestown, so to get one cherry ripe over this trip at the end of the season is a bit tougher.”

Galopin Des Champs winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

Auteuil was at one point the intended target for Galopin Des Champs, a fantastic winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup who then re-routed to the Punchestown Gold Cup where he was second.

Though his campaign eventually headed in a different direction, Mullins still has the meeting in mind for the French-bred chaser.

He said: “I’d love to bring Galopin Des Champs over and indeed he was probably en-route there, but after winning the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, we decided he’d probably better come back to Punchestown and after that I thought I should give him a break.

“He’s done everything right for us this season, possibly some other year we might bring him over. He’s a horse I’d love to see over there.”

Pont Aval highlights Killarney treble for Willie Mullins

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Pont Aval completed a near 102-1 treble for trainer Willie Mullins when taking the Tote Killarney National Handicap Chase under Sean O’Keeffe.

The Closutton handler had three chances in the three-and-a-quarter-mile feature, yet it was the outsider of the trio who struck at odds of 16-1.

In an race of changing complexions, Birchdale fell when upsides at the penultimate fence and as long-time leader Definite Plan faded, it looked like Rachael Blackmore, aboard Gateau De Miel, had the race at her mercy, only to tire approaching the last.

The 10-year-old mare Pont Aval, who had been pulled up on her previous start at Punchestown, came with a rattle and went away to win by seven lengths, giving her a first success over fences.

O’Keeffe said: “She jumped well and stayed going really well today. I was happy to get her jumping and travelling, and hopefully come home well with the light weight.

“They quickened turning in and I felt after the second last that a good jump at the last she would go and win her race. I’m delighted with her.

“She had some good runs over fences and things just happened fast for her at Punchestown the last day. She showed that she had a race like this in her and it’s great to get it.”

Paul Townend had earlier recorded a double for Mullins when dual Grade One-winning hurdler Saldier (7-4) took the Gerard O’Sullivan Memorial Novice Chase by a nose from Vina Ardanza, and Hauturiere (6-5) produced a stylish success on chasing debut, taking the Donie Sheahan Memorial Irish EBF Mares Beginners Chase by 10 lengths.

Saldier/Killarney
Saldier made a couple of mistakes but managed to get up on the line (Alan Magee/PA)a

Townend said of the latter: “It took her a while to get the hang of jumping hurdles but she jumped fences much better.

“I thought they went quite quick for what they were and I was happy to let it all happen in front of me. She came home well.

“I was at the pin of my collar at times and that to me said we were going a proper gallop.”

Mighty Tom came from last to first to claim the Listed Oyster Tavern Handicap Hurdle under a patient ride from Denis O’Regan to give trainer Cian Collins the biggest victory of his career thus far.

Doyen Ta Win, front-running winner of three handicaps in a row before defeat in a good conditions race, set out to make all the running again in the two-mile-one-furlong contest under Simon Torrens.

But when she tied up rapidly with two to jump, O’Regan seized his chance aboard the gelding, who had previously shown improved form on his stable debut when third to Seddon in a valuable Punchestown Festival handicap.

Mighty Tom
Mighty Tom gave Cian Collins a big win (Alan Magee/PA)

The result was never in doubt once the eight-year-old had flown the last and the 9-2 chance eased to a 10-length victory over favourite Magnor Glory.

Mighty Tom will now head to Galway and Collins said: “He’s a horse with any amount of ability. He’s had a few problems but we seem to have ironed them out now and hopefully he can keep going.

“We’ve changed the tactics with him and he’s more relaxed. Denis is the man for that job and gets on very well with him. It’s hard to watch but you have to let him at it.

“Denis said they flew, which probably suited him and he was able to stay on.

“He has loads of pace and stays the two miles very well. I’d say we’ll go for the Galway Hurdle now.

“That’s my biggest win and I’m from Kerry so it’s great to get it here.”

Shecouldbeanything/Killarney
Shecouldbeanything took the Mares Hurdle is good style (Alan Magee/PA)

Rapidly-improving mare Shecouldbeanything followed up her Punchestown Festival success with a second consecutive Listed victory when making virtually all the running in the Easyclean Tourist Attraction Mares Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old had previously flashed her potential when finishing a close-up sixth in the Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Having her seventh run since late November, the 4-1 shot showed plenty of guts under Donagh Meyler to first burn off last year’s winner Anna Bunina, then account for Walk With Paul, who jumped upsides at the last, the winner having briefly lost momentum when flattening the penultimate flight.

After her length success, the winning rider, who was deputising for sidelined regular pilot Jordan Gainford, said: “She did it well and is a hardy bit of stuff. I’m very grateful to be put up on her.

“She was headed after the second last but the harder it was, the tougher she dug in. She stuck out her head and should have a bright future.”

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend just champion again in Ireland

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Willie Mullins paid tribute to his owners, staff and Paul Townend after being crowned champion trainer for the 17th team on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

It has been another memorable campaign for the master of Closutton, who in January sent out is 4,000th career winner and set a new record for the number of winners in a National Hunt season in Ireland when surpassing his previous best total of 202 at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

Highlights on home soil include winning the Irish Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs and the BoyleSports Grand National with I Am Maximus, while the likes of State Man, El Fabiolo and Facile Vega were all multiple Grade One winners domestically.

Jody Townend collects the champion lady amateur title award from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue
Jody Townend collects the champion lady amateur title award from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue (Niall Carson/PA)

He said: “To win the champion trainer title is the icing on another great season for our team

“Galopin Des Champs winning at the Dublin Racing Festival, and I am Maximus winning the Irish Grand National were two personal highlights for me.

“Winning titles like this wouldn’t be possible without our loyal owners who send us these wonderful horses. It’s a huge team effort at Closutton – our staff go above and beyond in all weathers and keep the show on the road so winning the champion trainer title is a tribute to everyone at home.”

Expressing his admiration for Townend, Mullins added: “I’ve always had confidence in Paul. He was riding first jockey for me when Ruby (Walsh) was injured, but people always said he was just deputising for Ruby.

“He’s been excellent all the time. From the time he came to the yard, starting off, you could see there was something a little bit different about him.

“He’s probably coming into his own now with the horses that he’s riding. He’s had some spectacular rides this year – Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham, I Am Maximus and Gaelic Warrior here the other day. No matter what the situation he’s able to quarry a win out of horses.

“Good jockeys ride good horses and win, but great jockeys are able to get horses to win that shouldn’t win races. That’s what he is doing now.

“He minds himself now and he’s happy just to ride the good horses. I prefer that, to stay right for the right horses.

“We’ve got some fantastic riders between Danny (Mullins), Sean O’Keeffe, Jack Foley and Patrick (Mullins) comes in for some of those rides now and again.”

When asked for his thoughts on the season as a whole, Mullins said: “Obviously the (Cheltenham) Gold Cup would look the one between the ride he got, the horse we had. We had faith in him, Paul did everything right and the horse did most things right. I suppose that has to be the standout.

Paul Townend (right) is handed his award by Charlie McConalogue
Paul Townend (right) is handed his award by Charlie McConalogue (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’m very lucky as I’ve got a great team. David Casey, Patrick, Ben Delmar, they keep the whole thing going and keep the horses coming out. I’m very lucky to have a team like that around me.”

Townend picked up the champion jockey title for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time in all.

He reached the 100-winner mark for the season when steering Gaelic Warrior to success at Punchestown on Wednesday, his fourth career century, while I A Maximus provided him with a first Irish Grand National triumph.

“I’m in a very privileged position, riding so many superstars for Willie Mullins,” said Townend.

“We had an unbelievable season, especially on the big days like Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and at Punchestown this week.

“It was a great thrill to win such an iconic race like the Irish Grand National and finally get on that special roll of honour with I Am Maximus. Galopin Des Champs winning the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup was exceptional too.”

Mullins’ record-breaking son Patrick was crowned champion amateur for the 15th time, while Townend’s sister Jody picked up the champion lady amateur title for the third successive season.

Rising star Michael O’Sullivan received top honours
Rising star Michael O’Sullivan received top honours (Niall Carson/PA)

Rising star Michael O’Sullivan began the 2022/23 season as a 7lb claiming amateur, but ended it as champion conditional with three Grade One winners to his name, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard the hugely exciting Marine Nationale.

O’Sullivan, who is currently sidelined by a broken collarbone, said: “I’ve had a brilliant season. My partnership with Barry Connell and our Grade Ones together were the pinnacle.

Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer at Closutton, was top conditional jockey
Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer at Closutton, was top conditional jockey (Niall Carson/PA)

“I can’t forget my first big winner as a professional at the Listowel Festival. I had a double on the day and I won a big handicap for Terence O’Brien (Magnor Glory) and a had winner for Mikey Kennedy (Presenting J) – my local festival for local people.

“I had a double the following week for Barry Connell in Roscommon, including my first Graded success on board Enniskerry. The treble at Cork on Easter Sunday was also special.”

For the 20th time and for the third season running, JP McManus was crowned champion owner.

Impaire Et Passe an emphatic winner at Punchestown

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Impaire Et Passe showed a neat turn of foot and powered to victory in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The five-year-old ran well within himself and Townend rode the Cheltenham’s Ballymore winner with supreme poise.

Send off a 1-3 favourite against just four rivals, he sat third throughout much of the extended two miles and three furlongs of the Grade One contest.

Though Impaire Et Passe made a novicey mistake six out, which saw him with plenty of ground to make up, Townend appeared to ooze confidence as stablemate Champ Kiely and the Joseph O’Brien-trained High Definition set the pace.

There was still plenty to do approaching two out and for a brief moment, High Definition and JJ Slevin looked set to cause a shock.

But Townend had plenty up his sleeve and the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding soon cruised upsides and went to the front on the bridle after being given a reminder that this was not simply a piece of work.

Jumping clear at the last, he stormed home to record a seven-and-a-half length success, with High Definition hanging on for second, despite stumbling when hitting the running rail after jumping the last.

Mullins was far from happy with the performance, however.

He said: “He didn’t impress me at all, I was delighted he won, but throughout the race he wasn’t impressing me.

“He looked like he wasn’t enjoying it and maybe Cheltenham took much more out of him than we thought.

“At home he was on fire and maybe I did too much with him, because he was going so well.

“It’s hard to say something went wrong when you win by seven and-a half lengths.

“Maybe he loves the hill in Cheltenham, he just got going up the hill, whereas today is a flat track. I’ll have a quick chat with Paul later on and see what he thought.

“Turning for home, I wouldn’t have backed him, so to win after that just means that he has a huge engine, but he wasn’t really in love with what he was doing today, whether it was the ground or what I don’t know.

“I think we’ll freshen him up now. I was thinking maybe of going to France but I won’t, I think I’ll just put him away.”

Townend and Mullins were not too impressed with Impaire Et Passe
Townend and Mullins were not too impressed with Impaire Et Passe (Brian Lawless/PA)

Townend echoed the sentiments, hinting his charge needed waking up.

He said: “It was not as straightforward as I was hoping. Maybe it was just because I was left on my own. I think everyone could see that I was never really happy throughout the race.

“When I got upsides them, he came on the bridle for me and his class shone through then.”

He added: “He’ll have no problem jumping a fence, but I’d say it will depend on what the horse across the water (Constitution Hill) is doing as well!”

Anthony Bromley, racing representative of owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir and the man who purchases most of their horses, intimated that while the five-year-old has the size to be a chaser, the move to larger obstacles might be put on hold while the education process continues.

“He was quite switched off in the race and Paul had to wind him up a little bit turning but he picked up,” noted Bromley.

“To be fair, some of his races haven’t always been impressive. In the Moscow Flyer (at Punchestown), he wasn’t ‘Wow,’ and that’s why they went up in trip. He just needs to be woken up. I think there’s so much talent under the bonnet and I think he’s still a work in progress.

A chasing career could be delayed for Impaire Et Passe
A chasing career could be delayed for Impaire Et Passe (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s a big frame of a horse. He only had one bumper run last year and that’s his fourth hurdle run. I think the plan might be to stay hurdling and learn a bit more. But, the great Willie will tell us. In Willie we trust!

“You worry turning in slightly, you have a little moment, and suddenly by the line it’s clear and he’s winning easing down. He’s got great potential.”

The ‘Double Green’ colours had already enjoyed Grade One success at the meeting, with El Fabiolo on Thursday.

“There’s a lot of nice youngsters at Willie’s and it’s so exciting,” Bromley said.

“Isaac and Simon get a lot of fun from it. They love the Dublin Racing Festival, they love Cheltenham but Punchestown has really worked and they’ve been here all week, and to get two nice big winners – proper big winners – and horses that look like they might be superstars, is brilliant.

“And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? They put a lot into it. They’ve got a lot of horses and we’ve kissed a lot of frogs. But these two are exciting.”

State Man in cruise control without Constitution Hill

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State Man justified odds-on favouritism with consummate ease in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had won four Grade Ones in succession before having his colours lowered by Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

But without Nicky Henderson’s star to contend with, Paul Townend’s mount was backed as if defeat was out of the question and those who took the restrictive odds of 2-5 never had a moment’s concern.

Townend was happy to lob along in front with stablemate Vauban saving ground to his inside and Pied Piper on his left flank.

Willie Mullins with State Man
Willie Mullins with State Man (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, State Man was asked to stretch three out, and whipping round the final turn, he took two lengths out of his rivals and had the race won approaching the last.

Although he got in a little tight, the six-year-old steadied himself and drew clear to score by three lengths from Vauban. There was plenty of daylight back to the staying-on Colonel Mustard.

Townend said: “He has been beating these horses all year and, thankfully, he was able to do it again today.

“As I said when I made it in Leopardstown, I thought he would be better with a lead and probably a bit the same there.

“He just looks to be the best of that bunch – he just ran into a superstar in Cheltenham.”

Mullins said: “Paul said if nothing was going on he’d make his own running and keep it simple.

“He just missed the last, but Paul said with where he would have had to stand off he just let him fiddle it instead. That’s what you want in a hurdler when they are too far back, to go in and fiddle it.

Paul Townend returns victorious with State Man
Paul Townend returns victorious with State Man (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s done enough for the season. We’ll freshen him up now and get him back to do the same things next season, I hope.

“I can’t really see him going over fences, I’d say he’ll be a hurdle horse. I don’t know whether I need to go out in trip with him.

“He’s a horse that still has improvement in him.”

On his run at Cheltenham, the Closutton trainer said: “Constitution Hill was just brilliant so we were happy to be second and he’s going to be hard to beat.”

When it was put to him about the change of tactics today, he added: “I’m not sure we wanted to make the running for Constitution Hill at Cheltenham. If we did that and got beaten we would have said we should have done something different.

“We did what we did and I was happy. Maybe if the opportunity happens next time we might do that. He’s well able to do it from the front and I think he’s relaxing a lot more now which is a big help.”

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.”

Klassical Dream brings up Punchestown hat-trick

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Willie Mullins’ dominance in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle continued as Klassical Dream became only the third horse to win the Punchestown contest three or more times.

The winner in both 2021 and 2022, Klassical Dream had a point to prove having flopped at Cheltenham when only ninth in the Stayers’ Hurdle last month.

However, he silenced the doubters under a cool ride from Paul Townend to strike at the Punchestown Festival for the fourth time overall and give the master of Closutton his 10th victory in the three-mile Grade One.

There was little change in the order for the most part as Summerville Boy led the field along with Klassical Dream and Townend content to bide their time towards rear.

Things began to hot up when Sire Du Berlais took closer order after four out and sensing an opportunity to seal a unique Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown treble, Mark Walsh sent Gordon Elliott’s evergreen 11-year-old for home after two out, rounding the final bend.

It momentarily looked like Walsh’s enterprise could pay off, but Klassical Dream was moving stealthily onto his tail under a motionless Paul Townend.

Klassical Dream (right) clears the final hurdle on his way to winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle during day three of the Punchestown Festival
Klassical Dream (right) clears the final hurdle on his way to winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle during day three of the Punchestown Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

There was three in a line jumping the final flight as Klassical Dream, Asterion Forlonge and Sire Du Berlais all left the ground in unison, but on landing it was the Closutton hat-trick seeker who edged his way to the front and he stuck on gamely to hold off his rallying rivals and come home half a length to the good from Asterion Forlonge with Sire Du Berlais a neck away.

“Paul was so cool on him. He was out the back and the minute he got a bit of daylight he locked on and I thought ‘wow this is it’. It was a masterclass in riding again,” said Mullins.

“I’m a bit worried now as going celebrating with Jo (Coleman, owner) is no simple task! We have good nights.

Klassical Dream after winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time
Klassical Dream after winning the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle for a third time (PA)

“I think we’ll bring him to Auteuil again. We had a good time there last year (finished second) and a weekend in Paris is never a bad thing.

“Asterion Forlonge ran a cracker and stayed on great at the end. I think hurdling is just too fast for Monkfish, he wants slower ground and bigger fences to maximise jumping.”

Townend said: “His record here is very good. We just held on. I was trying to leave it late and I still managed to get there too soon.

“He hasn’t had the most straightforward of season and all credit to Dave (Casey, assistant trainer) and the gang at home for getting him back here in such good form on that bit of nice ground.

“I was always going to give him the chance to use his speed and take the criticism if I didn’t get there. I thought I’d the quickest horse and I was going to give him every chance. I wasn’t going to get involved that far from home.

“It’s easy riding for Willie in Punchestown. We’ve had a brilliant season and it’s nice to be a part of this massive team – a small part of it – to round of the season here in Punchestown.”

State Man ‘the one to beat’ ahead of Champion test

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With no Constitution Hill to worry about, State Man will be widely expected to end an excellent season on a high in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Impressive in winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and a Grade One novice event at Punchestown at the end of last season, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has this term taken the step up into open company in his stride.

Victories in the Morgiana Hurdle, the Matheson Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle earned him a shot at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while no match for Nicky Henderson’s brilliant winner, he was clearly best of the rest and aims to confirm his status as Ireland’s top two-miler on Friday.

“I was happy with him at Cheltenham and he’s in good form. There’s no Constitution Hill so hopefully he’ll be the one to beat,” said Mullins.

The champion trainer also saddles the admirable veteran Sharjah, who finished runner-up to Constitution Hill in the Aintree Hurdle a fortnight ago, as well as the five years younger Vauban.

The latter has finished behind State Man in his last three races, including when fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and Mullins already has one eye on a possible Flat outing later in the year.

He added: “We’ve Sharjah and Vauban in the race as well. Vauban possibly needs a longer trip and we’ll give him a good shot at the Flat later in the season to see what he can do there, but the plan is to go to Punchestown first.”

Gordon Elliott saddles Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle third Zanahiyr and Pied Piper, who was last seen being beaten a head by Faivoir in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year
Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

Colonel Mustard completes the field, with trainer Lorna Fowler preparing to send him back into action just six days after finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

She said: “I’m really happy with him. He was beaten fair and square in Ayr but he ran great, beaten by a horse (Rubaud) carrying less weight and a better horse at the weights, so I’d no gripes with it.

“We obviously think a lot of our horse. He’s been lightly-raced this season. Nobody can account for the bounce factor but we’ve given him every chance in every way to bounce back. He’s a good traveller, drinks well and I’m really happy to be going and really happy with him.

“On ratings he’s not going to beat a few, but it could be a tactical race and the prize money is fantastic.

“It just feels the right decision to be going and I really feel that he could run a good race. I hope so anyway.”

Impaire Et Passe puts lofty status on the line

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Impaire Et Passe puts his unbeaten record and tall reputation on the line in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

The French bumper winner made a hugely impressive hurdling debut for Willie Mullins at Naas in December before dominating his rivals in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown a month later.

The Closutton dogs were barking Impaire Et Passe’s name ahead of last month’s Cheltenham Festival and he duly delivered, easing clear in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in the style of a horse destined for even greater things.

Mullins had the option of running the five-year-old over the Moscow Flyer distance of two miles earlier in the week, but has elected to stick to a longer trip on the penultimate day of the meeting.

“We ran him over two miles in the Moscow Flyer in Punchestown before Cheltenham and the speed he showed in Cheltenham was fantastic but then again, that was against two-and-a-half-mile horses,” said Mullins.

“For Impaire Et Passe, it’s no problem doing two-and-a-half around Punchestown.”

High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown
High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

The champion trainer also saddles Champ Kiely, who was seven and a half lengths behind Impaire Et Passe when third in the Ballymore and takes him on again.

One-time Derby favourite High Definition is stepped up in distance by Joseph O’Brien following a seventh placed finish in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The five-year-old also sports cheek pieces for the first time since pursuing a jumping career.

Amir Kabir (Gordon Elliott), Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) and Thecompanysergeant (Denis Hogan) are the other contenders.

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.