Tag Archive for: Willie Mullins

McManus pair set for classy Naas novice hurdle

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Owner JP McManus is set to be double-handed in Sunday’s Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, with both Dawn Rising and Inothewayurthinking on course for the Grade One.

Dawn Rising was Group Three placed on the Flat for Aidan O’Brien before transferring to his son Joseph, who has saddled the six-year-old to win two of his three hurdles outings.

He is set to be joined in the famous green and gold silks by Inothewayurthinking, who has won both his hurdles spins for Gavin Cromwell.

McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry, said: “They are both in good form and the intention is for both to run. They’ve both had their couple of runs so this is the next step for them.

“It’s a nice race on a lovely track and it will be great to see them out at the weekend.”

Willie Mullins has four to choose from, topped by Grangeclare West who made an impressive start over hurdles at Navan in November, adding to bumper and point-to-point triumphs.

Grangeclare West impressed when winning at Navan
Grangeclare West impressed when winning at Navan (PA)

The Closutton handler also has Champ Kiely, Gaelic Warrior and Spanish Harlem in contention, while Gordon Elliott has three to pick from in Grade One-placed Irish Point, Three Card Brag and Imagine.

Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury, the Oliver McKiernan-trained Kalanisi Star and Monbeg Park from Sean Doyle’s yard complete the entries.

Doyle would be keen to test Monbeg Park at the highest level following his recent third in Grade Three company, but conditions will be key to his challenge.

The trainer said: “Monbeg Park is in good form and it would be great to run but we’re watching the weather and if the rain stays away, we could well take our chance.

“If the ground gets too soft for him, we won’t chance it.”

Cheltenham Festival 2021 – Day One – Cheltenham Racecourse
Appreciate It has his latest chase start (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Appreciate It, winner of the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Mullins, could be one of the stars on the undercard, as he is entered in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase having made a successful start over fences at Punchestown last month.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase has drawn some classy entries, with Roseys Hollow, Skyace and Telmesomethinggirl all aiming to score over fences for the first time.

Quais De Paris set to step up after Tramore triumph

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Willie Mullins is eyeing a step up in grade for Quais De Paris following his winning stable debut in the David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.

The five-year-old finished third in his sole appearance in France and transferred to Closutton for €180,000 in November 2021.

Making his first appearance for 428 days, the son of Masked Marvel was sent off 1-5 favourite in the hands of Paul Townend for the two-mile contest.

Always to the fore in the testing going, Quais De Paris drew clear after the last to score by just over three lengths.

“It’s great to get the annual cheque from David Flynn,” said Mullins, who was winning the race for the fourth year in a row.

“I think he is a nice horse but he didn’t win like I thought he would. I think he is a good horse but the ground out there is very testing after the rain last night.

“Paul kept it simple, went around the outside and just kept out of trouble. I think he is a horse you can follow for the rest of the season. I’m hoping he will upgrade now into Listed and graded races.”

Quais De Paris ridden by Paul Townend jumps the last to win The David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse
Quais De Paris ridden by Paul Townend jumps the last to win The David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse (Niall Carson/PA)

Townend added: “He showed a lovely attitude. He had the run in France to his name and he jumped great today. The ground is very testing but he stayed well on it.”

Gavin Cromwell’s Ahead Of The Posse (2-1 favourite) obliged favourite backers in the Ryan’s Cleaning Services Handicap Hurdle.

There was further success for the Danestown handler and jockey Keith Donoghue when Tyre Kicker (5-2 favourite) gave them a double on the card by taking the concluding Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase.

“This fella disappointed us a little bit over hurdles,” said the winning rider said of Tyre Kicker.

“We knew he was a good jumper and he had the experience from running in a couple of point-to-points. We thought he would be better over fences, but we thought he would do a bit more over hurdles.

“He jumped brilliant today and he won well. Hopefully he can progress now into what we thought he might do. He loved the trip today, he travelled well and went through the ground well.

Tyre Kicker ridden by Keith Donoghue goes on to win The Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse
Tyre Kicker ridden by Keith Donoghue goes on to win The Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse (Niall Carson/PA)

“He probably wasn’t seeing it out over three miles over hurdles. It was a winnable race today and he will have to step up the next day, but we are back on track with him anyway.”

Eoin Doyle has his eye on Thyestes Day at Gowran Park following Ardera Ru’s (9-2) victory in the Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle.

He said: “Patrick Mullins rode her in a Listed bumper and thought she was a lovely mare. She was placed then in a few bumpers but just wasn’t getting home.

Ardera Ru ridden by Shane O’Callaghan goes on to win The Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse
Ardera Ru ridden by Shane O’Callaghan goes on to win The Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle during Savills New Years Chase Day at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse (Niall Carson/PA)

“Then I started running her on better ground, which wasn’t ideal either. I got her wind done and she seems to be getting home a lot better now.

“She is relaxing a bit more and breathing a bit better. I think she will win over fences as well. There is a race at Gowran on Thyestes day that she might go for next.

“The horses are running well and we had a winner in Limerick as well.”

A mistake at the second last from 4-5 favourite Lisnagar Fortune handed Gordon Elliott’s Cardamon Hill (13-2) success in the Jack de Bromhead Memorial Maiden Hurdle, while the Core Bullion Traders Rated Novice Chase went the way of 11-8 favourite Whiskeywealth.

Stattler leads latest Mullins challenge on Tramore feature

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Willie Mullins is bidding for a seventh win in eight years in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore by fielding three of the five runners in the Grade Three race.

Hot on the heels of dominating Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, the champion trainer will be hoping Stattler can emerge as a Gold Cup prospect.

Mullins used Tramore as a stepping stone to Gold Cup glory for Al Boum Photo, who won this race four years in a row, but his retirement means there will be a new name on the roll of honour.

Winner of the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March, Stattler faces stablemates El Barra and Cilaos Emery and perhaps more pertinently Henry de Bromhead’s 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.

“Stattler, Cilaos Emery and El Barra, the three of them will go down there,” said Mullins.

“Stattler was three from three last year and I just thought I’d go down there for softer ground and we’re going to get that down there.

“He’s in great form, but he’s up against it with Henry’s horse. I just thought it was a great place to be starting his season.

“I think he has (improved again). He’ll probably want a further trip, but two miles and five (furlongs) around there in heavy ground, the type of horses that are going to be down there, stamina is going to come into play and that’s his forte.

“It’s going to be a tough task for the other two. Cilaos Emery just might not handle that ground and El Barra has the benefit of a few runs but possibly the conditions of the race won’t suit him.”

Pat Griffin’s Roi Mage completes the field.

State Man claims easy victory in Matheson Hurdle

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State Man continued his march towards a likely clash with Constitution Hill at the Cheltenham Festival in March with a comprehensive victory in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill is long odds-on to lift the Champion Hurdle crown in March following his latest demolition job in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

And while connections of the unbeaten five-year-old are unlikely to be quaking in their boots, State Man gave further evidence he may well prove his biggest threat with an authoritative display.

A well-backed winner of the County Hurdle in the Cotswolds last season and successful on his reappearance in last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, State Man lined up as one of three runners for Willie Mullins in the feature event on day four of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

Sharjah, ridden by the champion trainer’s son Patrick, was bidding to better hurdling legends Istabraq and Hurricane Fly by winning a remarkable fifth successive Matheson Hurdle, and yet he was only third in the betting at 6-1 behind State Man at 4-6 and his Triumph Hurdle-winning stablemate Vauban at 11-4.

Rank outsider She Is Electric took the field along for much of the two-mile journey, but predictably folded before the home turn, at which stage Paul Townend allowed State Man to stride into the lead.

The strong-travelling Vauban travelled into his slipstream at the top of the straight, but State Man soon found another gear to pull four and a quarter lengths clear.

Connections of Vauban will doubtless take plenty of encouragement from what was his first outing of the season and first start outside of juvenile company, while Sharjah was not disgraced in third.

State Man is unchanged at 4-1 with Coral for the Champion Hurdle, who make Constitution Hill their 2-7 favourite. Vauban, meanwhile, is a 10-1 shot.

State Man after winning the Matheson Hurdle
State Man after winning the Matheson Hurdle (Gary Carson/PA)

State Man could now take on dual Champion Hurdle and three-time Irish Champion Hurdle-winning mare Honeysuckle in the latter contest at February’s Dublin Racing Festival.

Mullins said: “State Man just keeps improving and I think there is more improvement again after today.

“We were discussing where he goes next and the Dublin Racing Festival looks like the plan now.

“Hopefully we don’t get any setbacks, the horses have been coming out of Leopardstown well over the last few days, and we’ll look forward to that and then maybe going over to Cheltenham in March.”

When asked if he thought State Man could give Constitution Hill a race, he added: “We all have to turn up and we’ll hope for the best. We’re improving all the time.”

The Closutton handler was also pleased with the performances of the placed horses, saying: “It was a cracker of a run from Vauban, having his first run back. He’s only a four-year-old and people tend to forget that.

“I was very pleased with that. He’ll probably have another run and then we’ll see if he’s good enough to go to Cheltenham. On today’s run I’m very happy that he’s progressed and is coming along nicely.

“He travelled very sweet, all the rest of the horses had runs. For his first run in championship company against older horses, I thought it was excellent. He’s way ahead of where I thought he was.

“Sharjah threw his chance away when he made the mistake at the second hurdle. I thought anything could happen with Sharjah as he loves this track, but the mistake put him out of the race and Patrick said he just wasn’t the same after that – you can’t do that in championship racing and get away with it.”

Gaillard Du Mesnil breaks chasing duck with Grade One glory

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Gaillard Du Mesnil finally enjoyed his day in the sun over fences with a facile victory in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Although winless in six previous outings over the larger obstacles, the dual Grade One-winning hurdler had never finished out of the first three and has been placed three times at the highest level.

With his Drinmore conqueror Mighty Potter a non-runner, Gaillard Du Mesnil was the 5-6 favourite to open his chasing account and ultimately did so in fine style in a race marred by fatal injuries suffered by both Unexpected Depth and Three Stripe Life.

Amirite also unseated Rachael Blackmore, but Gaillard Du Mesnil managed to keep himself out of trouble under a patient ride before pulling seven and a half lengths clear of Churchstonewarrior to provide Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with yet another Grade One success this week.

“He had the experience and he had the rating. He was still a maiden, but we had kept him to good class company all the time and he got his experience against that type of company,” said Mullins.

“Paul said he just flew fences down the back for him. They went very fast and he was even taken off it a bit early on.

Gaillard Du Mesnil after winning at Leopardstown
Gaillard Du Mesnil after winning at Leopardstown (Gary Carson/PA)

“He just glided into the race down the outside, kept out of trouble and kept away from the loose horse (Amirite) the best he could. He just kept jumping and landed in front.

“He deserved a crack at two and a half (miles) last time, though it was a little bit short for him. He probably learned a lot going that pace.

“All that experience counts for a day like today.”

Paddy Power make Gaillard Du Mesnil their 6-4 favourite from 9-4 for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while he is 6-1 from 10-1 with the same firm for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Willie Mullins continues Mares Hurdle run with Shewearsitwell

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Shewearsitwell provided Willie Mullins with a sixth victory in the last seven runnings of the BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Two subsequent Cheltenham Festival heroines in Let’s Dance and Concertista are among the champion trainer’s recent winners of the Grade Three contest and Shewearsitwell was actually sent off favourite for last year’s renewal, but suffered a nasty fall at the fourth flight.

With her confidence seemingly dented, results since have been mixed – but she got back on the winning trail in a Pertemps qualifier at Punchestown last month and was a 15-8 shot stepping back up in class.

The six-runner contest looked a match on paper and that was the way it transpired, with 8-13 favourite Queens Brook leading Shewearsitwell into the home straight.

But it was soon clear that the Mullins runner had more to give in the hands of Paul Townend and she picked up well passing the dolled off final obstacle to seal a four-and-a-half-length verdict.

Paddy Power cut Shewearsitwell to 8-1 from 25-1 for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “It was very good, she wasn’t very brave over her hurdles so I was very happy the last hurdle was taken out twice.

Shewearsitwell pulls clear at Leopardstown
Shewearsitwell pulls clear at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

“I thought going down the back she wasn’t going to race much but once Paul got after her, she just kicked into gear. She improved and enjoyed herself then.

“Paul said they went a right good gallop and he was at his best just trying to keep her in touch with the race.

“She was losing a half-length here and there at her hurdles which wasn’t good for her, but she eventually got it right and when it came to staying she outstayed the rest of them.”

Sharjah bids for record-breaking fifth Matheson Hurdle title

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Patrick Mullins feels it is a testament to Sharjah’s constitution that he is bidding for a fifth successive victory in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown on Thursday.

Should he be successful, and it is by no means a given as he faces two very smart stablemates in State Man and Vauban, he will overtake Istabraq and Hurricane Fly as the most successful horse ever in the Grade One.

Despite being an amateur, Mullins has struck up an incredibly successful partnership with the nine-year-old, trained by his father, Willie, and a place in Irish racing history will be assured if he manages to come out on top once again.

While he may not appear to be the yard’s first string, one positive Sharjah fans can cling to is that for the first three of his wins in the race he was not, either.

“It is not often you get an opportunity to top Hurricane Fly and Istabraq, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Mullins.

“Leopardstown at Christmas, on the inside track, really suits him. It’s a quick track, it’s usually nice ground and he was even going to win his novice race at this meeting five years ago when he fell jumping a shadow.

“It’s incredible for a horse to be running at Grade One level for six years, very few horses do that, very few have the soundness – or the ability – to do that. It says a heck of a lot about his constitution.”

Sharjah was beaten by State Man on his return to action this term, with last season’s County Hurdle winner four lengths too good in last month’s Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

Mullins admits it will be be hard to close the gap on his much younger stable companion.

“I was a little bit disappointed with him in the Morgiana, more that I had to come off the bridle to get by Saldier, but then I liked how he finished the race and he chased State Man to the line,” said the assistant trainer and jockey.

“I’ll need him to improve from that but I would hope that he will. I’ve four lengths and four years to find!

“It won’t be easy and we’ll be the underdog, but I’m looking forward to giving it a go.”

Vauban was far and away last year's leading juvenile
Vauban was far and away last year’s leading juvenile (Mike Egerton/PA)

In the same Susannah and Rich Ricci silks is last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban, who was not expected to run in the race.

“Vauban had the option of running against his own age at Limerick, but Willie decided he wants to find out where he lies with the big boys,” said Mullins.

Pied Piper, third to Vauban in the Triumph, runs for Gordon Elliott after two comfortable wins at Cheltenham and Down Royal this season.

Joey Logan, racing manager to Pied Piper’s owners Caldwell Construction Ltd, said: “He has to step up now and see where we are, but his work is very good at home and Gordon is very happy with him.

“This is going to tell us if he’s a Champion Hurdle horse or a Coral Cup horse or whatever. We’ll know more after this, that’s for sure.”

Norman Lee’s rank outsider She Is Electric completes the field.

Gaillard Du Mesnil aiming to open his chase account in style

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With former rival Mighty Potter declared a non-runner, Gaillard Du Mesnil appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to belatedly open his account over fences in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Thursday.

Although winless after six starts over the larger obstacles, the Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard Du Mesnil has been placed on each occasion, with three of those efforts coming at Grade One level.

The grey, who won twice in Grade One company over hurdles, was third behind esteemed stablemate Galopin Des Champs at last season’s Dublin Racing Festival before occupying the same finishing position behind L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham and when favourite for the Irish Grand National.

The six-year-old again had to make do with minor honours when filling the runner-up spot behind Mighty Potter on his reappearance in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last month – but with plans for the rematch shelved by connections of the latter, Gaillard Du Mesnil is a hot favourite to enjoy a deserved day in the sun.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “He has lots of experience which is always a help and he ran a cracker in the Drinmore.

“The Drinmore turned into a bit of a sprint which didn’t really suit him as he stays very well, so we’re expecting a very good run.”

Mighty Potter had the option of testing the water over three miles for the first time, but he will instead stick a shorter distance for the foreseeable future.

Joey Logan, racing manager to owners Caldwell Construction Ltd, said: “He’s a non-runner – he was declared by mistake.

Mighty Potter will not run at Leopardstown on Thursday
Mighty Potter will not run at Leopardstown on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We’ll wait for the Dublin Racing Festival with him. He’ll run over two and a half miles there and two and a half at Cheltenham.

“He’s only a five-year-old and there is no point in him going three miles when he doesn’t need to.”

Despite Mighty Potter’s absence, trainer Gordon Elliott is still doubly represented with Three Stripe Life, who was pulled up in the Drinmore after the now-retired Davy Russell’s saddle slipped, joined by Front Assault.

Churchstonewarrior (Jonathan Sweeney), Amirite (Henry de Bromhead), Unexpected Depth (Oliver McKiernan) and Barnacullia (Michael Mulvany) complete the field.

Allegorie De Vassy strikes Grade Two gold on chasing bow

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Allegorie De Vassy strengthened her position as ante-post favourite for the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with a bloodless victory at Limerick.

A dual winner over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season after joining Willie Mullins from France, the five-year-old was a 1-2 favourite to make a successful switch to fences in the Grade Two McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase.

Ridden by Sean O’Keeffe on her first competitive appearance in 333 days, Allegorie De Vassy was sent straight to the lead and was particularly impressive in the jumping department for much of the race.

Malina Girl gave vain chase in the straight and the leader was a little clumsy at the final two obstacles, but was ultimately in a league of her own as she passed the post with 19 lengths in hand.

O’Keeffe said: “I’m very happy with her and she is very enthusiastic about her job. She winged the first two fences, loves to get on with it, so I said I’d let her go along in front. I was trying to slow her down all the time really.

“She has a very big jump in her, has loads of scope and is a big mare. She was brave at the second-last but will have learned a bit jumping the last two fences and that will stand to her the next day. She put in a good round of jumping other than that.

“There is a nice engine there and hopefully (she) can continue progressing over fences.”

Allegorie De Vassy is the 9-4 market leader with Paddy Power to provide Mullins with a third successive win in the Mares’ Chase at Prestbury Park following the previous triumphs of Colreevy and Elimay.

Allegorie De Vassy carries the colours of prominent owner Rich Ricci
Allegorie De Vassy carries the colours of prominent owner Rich Ricci (Tim Goode/PA)

Joe Chambers, racing manager for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, said: “She was good, didn’t learn much going around so I’d say the last two mistakes were handy and will stand to her.

“Sean was delighted, he won two on her last year and is more familiar with her than Paul (Townend). He thinks she has a lot of natural ability and it is good to get her going.

“If she is half as good as the other mare (Benie Des Dieux) we brought down here in the past, we’d be fairly happy!”

Regarding Cheltenham plans, he added: “It is not all about the destination, the journey getting there is every bit as important as well and we’ll try to pick up a few other races first.

“There are other races for her in Thurles and Clonmel, but we’ll let Willie decide that.”

Vega earns Mullins’ praise with Facile Future Champions strike

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Willie Mullins was once again fulsome in his praise of Facile Vega after seeing his star youngster stamp his class on the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The outstanding performer in the bumper sphere last season with wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old made a smooth transition to the jumping game at Fairyhouse earlier in the month.

Returning to Grade One level, the son of Walk In The Park and six-time Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega was the 2-9 favourite to make it six from six and the result was never really in doubt.

After initially taking a lead from Il Etait Temps, Facile Vega almost jumped into the back of his stablemate at the first hurdle and was subsequently allowed to stride on in front.

Il Etait Temps hung in there and tried to throw down a renewed challenge from the home turn, but Facile Vega was in full command as he passed the post with four lengths in hand. Ashroe Diamond stayed on from the rear to make it a Mullins one-two-three.

When asked to give his star youngster a mark out of 10, Mullins said: “I’d nearly have to give him 11 and a half, I think!

“Plan A obviously went out the window after the first hurdle. Thankfully Il Etait Temps didn’t bring him down, Paul said he was very close to it because he absolutely winged the hurdle.

“Then he had no lead and had to go and make his own running. He did it well, he got very free at the first hurdle down the back and took some jump at it. I was delighted to see that but I knew he couldn’t keep that up.

Facile Vega after his Leopardstown success
Facile Vega after his Leopardstown success (Gary Carson/PA)

“Paul got him back, got him into a slower rhythm and got him jumping better. He said he was still racing in his hands the whole way but he eventually settled for him.

“I think he’ll learn an awful lot today. The big crowd and all the buzz before the race itself, all that will be a help for him in the future.”

Facile Vega remains an evens favourite with Betfair to provide the champion trainer with a record eighth win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The longer Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is an alternative option, but when asked if he will stick to two miles, Mullins added: “I wouldn’t be looking for anything else.”