Tag Archive for: Danny Mullins

Champ Kiely tops Ballyburn for Grade One gold

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Champ Kiely upset his better fancied stablemate Ballyburn to claim top honours in a dramatic renewal of the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Willie Mullins saddled five of the eight runners that went to post for the Grade One contest, but first his Cheltenham Festival hero Lecky Watson fell at the fifth obstacle and brought down stablemate Impaire Et Passe before a third Closutton runner, Ile Atlantique, came to grief a few fences later.

Ballyburn, an 11-8 favourite to bounce back from Cheltenham disappointment, moved to the front on the second circuit – but 22-1 shot Champ Kiely and Danny Mullins sat in his slipstream before the home turn and had more to give in the straight, with six and a half lengths separating the pair at the line.

Mullins said: “Champ Kiely didn’t enjoy Fairyhouse (finished third nine days ago) but today he was a different horse, and Danny rode him with huge confidence to follow Paul.

“He did everything right for Danny today. With all the hard luck we had in the race between fallers and a horse being brought down, it was great to see Danny getting into the picture at the third-last and I said this fella has a chance if Ballyburn doesn’t stay in front.”

Of Ballyburn, he added: “He probably just didn’t jump well enough on the day and I would say there’ll be a lot of thought put into going back hurdling next season.

“We know he jumps hurdles fantastically and there might be a gap in the staying hurdling division for him.”

Il Etait Temps stuns Jonbon with Sandown Celebration

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Il Etait Temps stunned Jonbon to run out an easy winner of the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Off the track for almost a year, the seven-year-old breezed to victory under Danny Mullins.

The form was in the book, when he was last seen he beat Gaelic Warrior at the Punchestown Festival having also won at Aintree, but the fact he had missed the whole of the season saw him go off a 9-2 chance.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, he pinged every fence and appeared on the bridle at the Pond Fence.

Il Etait Temps and winning connections
Il Etait Temps and winning connections (Steven Paston/PA)

Jonbon, who had shifted marginally right at some of his fences but in the main jumped well, had no excuses as Il Etait Temps breezed by on his way to a five-and-a-half-length win to hand Jonbon his first defeat away from the Cheltenham Festival. The winner’s stablemate Energumene was third.

Willie Mullins said: “I didn’t expect that and I was hoping both him and Energumene would finish, pick up some place money and both be sound. But to do what he did, I couldn’t believe it there in the stands and that has to be one of the moments of the whole year I think, for him to come out and do what he did.

“He looks top class and that’s his fifth Grade One I think. He’s not a big, chasing type and to put him against Jonbon it looked like father and son, but he can jump and he’s athletic and stays and he does everything.”

On the near season-long absence, Mullins added: “He had a little knee problem and was supposed to be back at Christmas and then Easter and every time we got close it went wrong.

“We said we’d put him by for Punchestown but then we needed him for today and thank god we did, but he has been working very well at home.”

Nicky Henderson said of Jonbon: “He’s run well and he’s jumped and travelled and done everything right.

“He’s danced every dance this season and unfortunately Cheltenham didn’t work. He had his hardest race there in finishing second, trying to get into the race and that flattened him enough.

“Aintree was great and we are all starting to think that extra half-mile might help him. He’s a very good two-miler but we’ll be having a chat about it.

“It’s tempting to go Shloer, Tingle Creek and then have a look. But I think we’re all thinking that extra half-mile – and dare I say plus – might just help him out. There’s one way to find out and that’s to try him, but we’ll see.

“He’ll go back to Martinstown (Stud) and have a lovely summer of champagne and caviar and then we’ll have a chat and work it out.”

Connections of third-placed Energumene felt the ground was too quick for him to play a significant role but there are no plans to retire the dual Champion Chase winner.

Spindleberry strikes Fairyhouse Gold for Willie Mullins

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Spindleberry maintained her unbeaten record over fences to provide Willie Mullins with a record sixth victory in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

The champion trainer saddled three runners in the Grade One feature, although that number was soon reduced by one after the early pacesetter Ile Atlantique unseated his son Patrick at the third fence.

His exit left his stablemate and 7-4 favourite Champ Kiely in front and he quickly built up a buffer over the chasing pack under Paul Townend, with Danny Mullins and Spindleberry his closest pursuer.

Champ Kiely remained in front rounding the home turn, but Spindleberry took over coming to the final fence and found plenty on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths, with Gordon Elliott’s Firefox staying on to beat Champ Kiely to the runner-up spot and deny Mullins a one-two.

Spindleberry with connections after winning at Fairyhouse
Spindleberry with connections after winning at Fairyhouse (Alan Magee/PA)

Mullins said: “She shows a real liking for this place and I thought Danny gave her a lovely ride.

“Whether she goes on to Punchestown or not, we’ll have a look at the programme and see how things are, but she’s a nice mare for the future and I think she should be well able to go out to three miles next season.”

Champ Kiely was beaten a total of 10 and a half lengths in third and Mullins added: “I was a little disappointed with Champ Kiely, but I think he was having to avoid the loose horse and may have taken his eye off it.”

Family rivalry an extra ingredient in the Mullins machine

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When it comes to assessing the jaw-dropping strength of Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival squad, few are better placed than his son Patrick and nephew Danny.

Both men will have a role to play when the Closutton juggernaut roles into the Cotswolds. How much of a part remains to be seen, with the most successful trainer in Festival history not one for making a decision early if it can be made late.

Stable jockey Paul Townend will have the pick of the majority of the Mullins superstars he wants to ride and as there is no clear number two, with Patrick and Danny somewhere in a cloudy pecking order that keeps even family members guessing, both will have to wait until they called upon.

Willie and Patrick Mullins with Jasmin De Vaux, who last year provided the trainer with his 100th Cheltenham Festival success
Willie and Patrick Mullins with Jasmin De Vaux, who last year provided the trainer with his 100th Cheltenham Festival success (Adam Davy/PA)

When asked if he knew of any confirmed rides for this year’s Festival, 16-time champion amateur Patrick Mullins said: “No, I don’t – I wish I did! I suppose in another year I’d be thinking maybe Dancing City in the National Hunt Chase, but that race has obviously changed, and I don’t know what I’m going to ride in the Champion Bumper yet because I can’t do the weight on Bambino Fever.

“After that you’re trying to pick up spares and it’s very much up in the air, but you’re looking at horses you might have won on before in bumpers or whatever.”

As part of the traditional pre-Festival Irish press trip, Patrick, 35, and Danny, 32, joined the assembled media at the Lord Bagenal, the scene of many a Mullins party over the years, to discuss their hopes and dreams for this year’s meeting.

Danny was in particularly good form, fresh from enjoying a Dublin Racing Festival double, but it is notable that neither were saddled by his famous uncle.

The rider could be forgiven for feeling frustrated by the lack of clarity heading into the biggest week of the year, but he is more than happy to grab whatever opportunities do arise with both hands.

“As per usual with me it’ll be late on,” he said.

“I had a great Dublin Festival, but looking at the entries in the weeks coming up to it I would have been thinking I was hopefully going to be on some of Willie’s and Emmet (Mullins) pops up with one in a handicap and I got on a Joseph O’Brien spare and had two winners.

“It’s great to be in a position where I’ve put myself there to be a go-to man on the big day. My Cheltenham horse was Flooring Porter (dual winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle) and I picked up that ride an hour before the race, so anything can happen.

“It’s probably unlikely that I’m going to have a confirmed ride where I can say I’m going to do this or that in a race. Paul can have plan A, B and C for the ones he knows he’s going to ride, I have to be ready with plan A, B and C for the 28 races and hope I get a ride in one of them.

“That’s just the way it is and it’s worked well for me in the past.”

Lossiemouth in action at Punchestown
Lossiemouth in action at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

There could be a major spare ride up for grabs on day one, with Lossiemouth looking set to renew rivalry with State Man in the Champion Hurdle, although she remains in the Mares’ Hurdle.

With Townend expected to keep the faith in reigning champion State Man, it appears almost certain one of the Mullins men will be aboard Lossiemouth, should she go for the Champion, having departed four flights from the finish when challenging State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Patrick Mullins was intriguingly jocked up to ride Lossiemouth that day initially, but a couple of hours later it was his cousin’s name who appeared on the racecard.

When asked whether he felt Lossiemouth could win the Champion Hurdle, Danny Mullins said: “I think she definitely can. Constitution Hill is still very good, but even though Lossiemouth fell in Leopardstown, she’d learned a good bit from Kempton the time before.

“In the Christmas Hurdle she jumped quite high, she learned to get lower and faster and eventually paid the price. It was an uncharacteristic mistake, it just came out of nowhere and the reports seem to be that she’s come out of it not too bad.

“The placement of the Dublin Racing Festival to Cheltenham is fantastic, with five weeks rather than two or three, so hopefully Lossiemouth can bounce back from that.”

Patrick Mullins takes a slightly different view, saying of her Leopardstown fall: “It’s a big concern and not an ideal preparation. It was a horrible fall and Ruby (Walsh) always says the good jumpers get the worst falls because they’re not expecting it.”

Even if Lossiemouth and State Man turn up at their best, Mullins believe both will have their work cut out to beat the horse that is looking to regain his crown.

The Mullins team at Cheltenham
The Mullins team at Cheltenham (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

“If Constitution Hill turns up I think we’re all running for place money. I rode in the Supreme when he won it and I always said this horse can’t be beat,” he added.

“I was on Kilcruit and was beside Mighty Potter and Jack Kennedy and even though we were 20 lengths down at halfway I said ‘we could still win this, these can’t keep going, they’ve lost their heads’.

“I knew Dysart Dynamo was a bit of a runaway, Jonbon had gone out to not give Dysart Dynamo anything and we couldn’t go with them. Then Dysart Dynamo falls, I nearly get Jonbon with Kilcruit and your man (Constitution Hill) just keeps going.

“That horse is unbeatable, but the horse I saw in Kempton and Cheltenham in January doesn’t look unbeatable. Maybe I’m conning myself, but there’s hope.”

The feature event on day two is, of course, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, in which Danny has high hopes for Solness.

The seven-year-old proved his surprise Christmas success was no fluke when dominating from the front in last month’s Dublin Chase and while it is uncertain whether Mullins will keep the ride or not at this stage, with J J Slevin potentially set to be recalled, he feels Solness should not underestimated.

“Solness was very good. There’s been plenty of chat about the race, but the speed he went, very few horses could keep up with that,” he said.

“Contrary to whatever everyone is saying, they tried to come with me in Leopardstown. I think I left the ground in third over the first fence and it wasn’t until you jumped the two downhill fences that he really poured it on.

“He impressed me so much. It’s easy to go out and do all the jumping down the back straight, but to go down and jump the last and race from there until the finish, that’s what pays.”

Whether on horseback or on the ground, as assistant to his father Patrick Mullins is relishing being part of what is perhaps the strongest team National Hunt racing has ever seen.

Manchester City’s unexpected demise in the last 12 months is proof that even the mighty can fall, but Patrick believes his father’s burning ambition will ensure the Mullins machine continues to dominate.

“Willie has always said to me, you need fresh blood. You look at what Sir Alex Ferguson did, you need to keep new people coming in.

“Willie is always thinking two years ahead, not even next year. You can’t rest on your laurels. It’s a cliched thing to say, but the hunger Willie has to go ‘again, again’ and ‘more, more’ is incredible.

“We have extra stables this year and he’s on about getting more stables again. We’re all trying to say ‘it’s full’, but at an age when most people are retiring, he’s only ramping up.”

Vischio records special success for Emmet and Danny Mullins

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Family was to the fore as Vischio triumphed in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle, the opening event on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Trained by Emmet Mullins and ridden by his cousin Danny, the pair are grandchildren of the race’s namesakes, who counted Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup winner Dawn Run among the stable stars when training and have spawned an Irish racing dynasty.

Their multiple champion trainer son Willie had a live chance in Straight Home this time around, but it was the younger Mullins generation who prevailed as Vischio made a late dash for the line after the final hurdle.

Making her debut for the yard, Vischio (8-1) shot clear of the field to win by five lengths from Kimy, with Qualimita back in third. British raider Queens Gamble could finish only sixth.

Vischio was bought for €52,000 in November and Emmet Mullins felt the purchase was a brave decision.

Danny Mullins after his winning ride on Vischio
Danny Mullins after his winning ride on Vischio (Evan Treacy/PA)

He said: “Danny and Jack (Cantillon) were talking at the sales back in October. She came advised from Danny, Jack was plucky to put his hand (up) and this race has been the plan since then.

“Once or twice I wasn’t sure where I had her, but luckily she just came right in the last week or two and she’s not a mare that takes a whole lot of work. It’s panned out in our favour for a change.

“If there was an early-season Pattern race on the Flat with cut in the ground, she’ll probably take her chance.”

Maureen Mullins died aged 94 last February and her grandson also managed to send out the winner of a race named in her honour at the Cheltenham Festival.

He added: “It’s been a special 12 months winning granny’s race, the National Hunt Chase, at the Cheltenham Festival as well.”

Emmet Mullins secured a second winner on the day as McLaurey justified 3-1 favouritism in the Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, McLaurey hit the front with the post in sight and had to stay on all the way to the line as Storm Heart and Irish Panther were finishing fast.

Mullins said: “I was sure I had an improving horse coming here today. He’s definitely improved every run.

“He’s mentally not there yet, although Mark said today was the first time he ever travelled in a race.

“First time running in a big handicap here, the few non-runners played to our strengths and the slow ground over two miles. I think he’s a horse that can stretch out in trip over time.

“I think there is a big engine in there and we are only scratching at the surface. He’s still a big baby.

“I didn’t think two miles might be his cup of tea first time in a handicap, but it was a €150,000 pot and he had the mark to get in here.

“I was keen for him to run, and he’d learn if it didn’t happen for him today. It’s just great that it has, and he’s a horse going the right way.”

Backtonormal (11-4 favourite) was delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge to win the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge had failed to win in any of his three previous runs over fences but with 5lb claimer Conor Stone-Walsh in the saddle, there was plenty of confidence behind him.

Sequestered made a good race on it after the last, with the pair racing apart from each other, but Backtonormal held a three-and-a-quarter-length advantage at the line, with Monbeg Park a further neck back in third after a late spurt.

Cromwell said: “The step up in trip and niceish ground suited and Conor was very good on him. He’s a good rider.

“His work lately has been good. We thought he’d run a big race, and he duly did.

“I wouldn’t rule out going for the two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap at Cheltenham.”

Real Steel gallops on gamely for Munster National triumph

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Real Steel rolled back the years with a front-running victory in the BoyleSports JT McNamara Munster National for local trainer Eric McNamara.

A dual Grade Two winner and sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2020 for Willie Mullins, the 11-year-old subsequently enjoyed a spell with Paul Nicholls before being snapped up by McNamara for £27,000 two and a half years ago.

He gave his new connections a memorable day when claiming a shock 33-1 victory in the lucrative Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting two seasons ago, but had failed to add to his tally in eight subsequent starts, most recently finishing down the field in the Kerry National at Listowel.

However, with blinkers reapplied and more positive tactics deployed, the 8-1 shot showed his true colours at Limerick under a typically well-judged ride from Danny Mullins, jumping fluently to keep the pressure on the chasing pack and finding plenty when challenged by 13-8 favourite Horantzau d’Airy to see him off by three and a half lengths.

“We are just having a fantastic time of it and to win that race is very special,” said McNamara.

“I won it previously in 1999 when today’s clerk of the course Paul Moloney rode Kaselectric to win at Cork (with Limerick being developed), but that was a good while ago, so we were due another!”

He added: “Danny Mullins was exceptional, he really was. We said we’d lead if it worked out that way, and he popped him out and it worked out great. To get this horse back to a semblance of his old form was magical.

“That is a fantastic race to win and means a lot to us.”

In winning, Real Steel landed Down Syndrome Limerick the €20,000 sweepstake prize, which was sponsored by leading owner JP McManus.

Ebor next for Jackfinbar after opening jumps account at Galway

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Jackfinbar looks set for a second crack at Ebor glory at York later this month, after making a successful debut over obstacles on the penultimate day of the Galway Festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old kept on strongly to justify 11-4 favouritism in the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle, scoring by a length and three-quarters from stablemate Hipop De Loire under Danny Mullins.

Having run well for a long way in last year’s Ebor behind another Closutton inmate in Absurde, Jackfinbar was subsequently cut from 50-1 to 33-1 to claim the valuable York handicap on August 24 by Paddy Power.

Mullins confirmed a trip to the Knavesmire is likely to be on the agenda for not only the winner but also the runner-up.

He said: “Both my horses were nine and seven years of age and were coming off the Flat so wouldn’t have known about hurdling and Jackfinbar was very keen. It is a different pace over jumps, so they had to settle back and think, but both did it nicely.

“It was a pity having to run them against each other but I hadn’t another opportunity to get them out this week and I wanted to run.

“Jackfinbar had two injuries and was too late when he came out to go novice hurdling last year and with the other fellow (Hipop De Loire), I just wanted to wait with him. They are two nice horses.

“The first and second might go to the Ebor in York now – Absurde got beaten here last year and went on and won the Ebor, so these will try and do the same.”

Puppet Master took full advantage of a good opportunity to get off the mark in the BoyleSports Money Back If 2nd To SP Fav Irish EBF Maiden.

The Galway Races Summer Festival – Day Six – Galway Racecourse
Puppet Master ridden by Wayne Lordan winning at Galway (Niall Carson/PA).

Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile was sent off at 1-2 on the back of a promising debut second at Killarney and put in a professional display to oblige by four lengths under Wayne Lordan.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He is a lovely colt who had a lovely run with Jack (Cleary) in Killarney and coming here with a run under your belt really stands to you. He can travel, quicken and will be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year.

“It was Wayne’s first time sitting on him and he was delighted with him and thought he has the makings of a really nice horse. He has a very good attitude and he also has a turn of foot, which is important.

“At the moment, he will be in the mix for the Beresford.”

Flying Bay put in a game front-running display to win the Bathshack Maiden for Andrew Kinirons and Ben Coen at 15-2, just holding on from the fast-finishing Vadali to score by half a length.

The Galway Races Summer Festival – Day Six – Galway Racecourse
Flying Bay ridden by Ben Coen (left) on their way to winning at Galway (Niall Carson/PA).

Kinirons said: “The lads (owners) are great and have been patient with him. I thought he was a serious horse last year but he got the usual bad scopes and I ran him too fresh on his first run at the Curragh. He was just weak and the New Bays need time.

“I had him entered in the (Irish) 2,000 Guineas last year, so it is hard to give them time when they’re working so well. We held back though, as he is a big baby and got a good education in Killarney when he hit the line well and the form has worked out.

“I’d say there is a lot of improvement in him and Ben was key to him as he had been riding work on him and didn’t get to ride him in a race until the last day.”

Lady O benefitted from having cheek pieces fitted when running out a decisive winner of the Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Nursery Handicap at 100-30 for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley.

Minella Cocooner grabs Sandown Gold for Mullins team

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Seven days on from winning the Scottish National in a photo finish, Willie and Danny Mullins repeated the trick as Minella Cocooner was delivered right on the line to catch long-time leader Annual Invictus in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Mullins had been confirmed as champion trainer just 30 minutes earlier when El Fabiolo finished second in the Celebration Chase, so it was perhaps inevitable that he would claim the last feature handicap of the jumps season.

Despite dominating at Cheltenham once more, it was not until the victory of I Am Maximus in the Grand National at Aintree that the title became a possibility and Macdermott’s win at Ayr last week put Mullins within touching distance.

With the pressure off, Danny Mullins crept into contention on the 17-2 chance but Annual Invictus did not give up without a fight.

Two from home there were still plenty in with chances, but it only concerned Minella Cocooner and Annual Invictus at the last and it was the Mullins’ runner who came out on top in a tight finish.

The runner-up lost very little in defeat for Chris Gordon, with Mullins’ Nick Rockett and Paul Townend back in third.

“For my nephew Danny to ride, it was special, especially after what he did last week in Ayr,” said Mullins.

“He gave the horse a tremendous ride, he was doing the right thing going down the back, got him balanced and travelling and got two tremendous jumps over the last two fences.

“Danny is our super-sub, he has been fantastic for us all season so congratulations to Danny and to my owners too for letting me come here rather than Punchestown.”

Danny Mullins said: “Plans pretty much went out the window. We were in a grand position at the start but he’d been quite keen in some of his early races and I’d made the running on him in some of his races as a novice hurdler, so at the standing start I couldn’t rush him early and I was out of the picture.

“Thankfully Willie wouldn’t have been able to see me there to give out, but he always instils in us to keep riding to win even if plans change, just adjust and ride to the best of our ability, and it came together nicely in the end.

“I’m just a small part in Willie’s success but I’m delighted to be there. There’s a fantastic team at home all through the year, from scouts to owners to staff. I’m lucky enough to get the leg up when Paul (Townend) is elsewhere or when there’s a couple of runners, it’s just fantastic to be a part of it.

“That’ll do nicely. I’m always trying to put myself in a position to be a big-race jockey and I’ve been very lucky for a number of years to be riding regular Grade One winners. You have to keep the hard work going so you can dine at the top table, and thankfully it’s worked out again today.”

Mullins confident Temps holds strong Arkle claims

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Danny Mullins is relishing the prospect of being reunited with Il Etait Temps in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

Together the pair have struck Grade One gold at each of the last two Dublin Racing Festivals, most recently digging deep to land the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last month.

With stable jockey Paul Townend siding with Gaelic Warrior, who beat Il Etait Temps comprehensively at Limerick over the Christmas period, Danny Mullins keeps the ride on the grey and is optimistic he will put up another good show as he looks to complete the same double achieved by El Fabiolo 12 months ago.

“I was expecting that Paul might have wanted to ride him, given that he was favourite all week, but I suppose Gaelic Warrior has been very good at times and has had his own mind at other times,” he said.

“I’m delighted to be on my fella, I think any one of four can win the race and I’m definitely one of the four.

“He ran to a solid Grade One level over hurdles but he seems to have been a deserving Grade One winner over fences this season, whereas he was maybe fortunate to win one over hurdles.

“For a small horse, he shows serious scope and it’ll be tested to the limit going into the Arkle.”

Il Etait Temps carries the colours of the Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud, with the latter owned by the family of former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter, who said: “He’s not the most elegant, but he certainly has a lot of fight and courage and character for a small horse.

“His style of racing and jumping is probably not the most attractive but he’s got the job done for us twice now in Grade Ones and has placed form in some big races since he came into the yard for Willie. They obviously think very highly of him at Closutton.”

Gaelic Warrior looks to bounce back to form
Gaelic Warrior looks to bounce back to form (PA)

Gaelic Warrior, who has been second at the Cheltenham Festival for the past two years, failed to fire at the Dublin Racing Festival, unseating Townend at the final fence when well beaten by stablemate Fact To File.

Mullins has a third string to his bow in the form of Hunters Yarn, while Irish Arkle runner-up Found A Fifty (Gordon Elliott), 2021 Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios (Henry de Bromhead) and My Mate Mozzie (Gavin Cromwell) add further strength in depth to the Irish contingent.

One of the chief hopes for the home team is JPR One, who looked the likely winner of the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham in November before tipping up at the final fence, since when he has finished third in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown before landing a Grade Two at Lingfield.

Joe Tizzard said: “He was unlucky early doors at Cheltenham and he’s only put in the one bad run at Sandown on heavy ground in the Henry VIII. Other than that, he’s been very good.

“I think he will need to improve again, but he is where I want him at home and if we have a clear round, I think he won’t be too far away. I hold the horse in high regard and a bit of drying ground wouldn’t do him any harm either.

“It’s unfortunate Marine Nationale won’t be there, but I watched the Dublin Racing Festival and it looks a wide-open race.”

Gary Moore’s Authorised Speed and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained pair of Master Chewy and Matata complete the field.

“They both have good form this season, so hopefully they will run well,” said Twiston-Davies.

“I think they have quite a good chance and I think they are as good as any of the British. Matata has that nice course form from New Year’s Day, it was a good run.”

Team Mullins know how to celebrate Festival success

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If your name is Mullins, you must look forward to the Cheltenham Festival like an excited child counting down the sleeps before Christmas morning.

The presents under the tree come in the form of equine superstars, which will not be delivered by Santa Claus but by the most successful trainer in Festival history.

Patrick and Danny Mullins, son and nephew of the all-conquering Willie, were among those good enough to give up their time and speak to the travelling media at The Lord Bagenal in County Carlow, a place of legendary status due to it being the family’s local, where parties start early and finish late.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo outside The Lord Bagenal Inn
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo outside The Lord Bagenal Inn (Niall Carson/PA)

Patrick said: “The Lord Bagenal is where we’ve always come. I had my 21st here and I imagine we’ll all get married and buried here!

“At my 21st, one fellow fell asleep in the bath two stories up and it dripped down and flooded about three rooms, so he had to pay for that – other than that, it’s just been the usual shenanigans.

“We have our Christmas parties here and it used to be a case of myself and Paul Townend would go straight from here to work, but now we’re out by midnight! Then, I think as you get older, you start staying later again, you can definitely see the passage of time there.

“Willie enjoys bringing people here and drinking them under the table, he has a lot of practice at that!”

Unlike Patrick, Danny is teetotal, but that has not stopped him enjoying a night out at the Bagenal.

He said: “There’s plenty of stories – if the walls could talk! There’s been a few good nights and it’s a good spot for a Mullins party.

“Everyone from near and far, if they’re coming for a day out in Willie’s or Red Mills day or Thyestes day in Gowran, the stopping point is always the Bagenal after that.

“Willie has got plenty of miles on the clock, but he’s still got a good engine!”

Record-breaking amateur Patrick arrived casually dressed in hoodie and jeans, while his younger cousin was suited and booted and sporting a head of hair some of us could only dream of.

Patrick Mullins is looking forward to the Cheltenham Festival
Patrick Mullins is looking forward to the Cheltenham Festival (Niall Carson/PA)

The pair’s very public but brief fallout at Limerick in late December appears to be all but forgotten, although Patrick did joke when trading places with Danny on the allocated interview sofa that we were now getting the ‘cut price version’.

Patrick is a major cog in the Mullins machine these days, not only in a riding capacity but also in an assistant trainer role.

He is fully aware that expectations on the team have never been higher after a clean sweep in the eight Grade Ones at the Dublin Racing Festival, and he believes there is every chance his father will get the six winners he needs to reach a remarkable century of Cheltenham Festival winners next month.

“It’s funny, as expectations for us are different to everyone else, which is great,” he said.

“If you get the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup, it’s probably a good result, but if you come home with any less than five winners, you’ll probably be disappointed.

“I’ll never forget the year we had no winner on the Tuesday and no winner on the Wednesday and Douvan got injured. We were sat there on the Wednesday night thinking ‘what’s going on, we’re doing nothing different’, and you’re always worried one year they’re going to blowout.

“With the quantity and quality of the team we bring over, I don’t think six winners would be a funny thing to say.

“To get to 100 Festival winners is not even a dream, it’s not something that ever was possible. Cheltenham is different to what it was when it was three days, so this is a new era, but even with that, it’s one of those things that’s so outlandish it doesn’t feel real.”

One of the features of the new era has been the birth of training partnerships, particularly in Britain, between fathers and sons.

Willie and Patrick Mullins
Willie and Patrick Mullins (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, when one journalist began raising the possibility of a joint licence being applied for at Closutton, the question had not even been completed when Mullins junior intervened.

He said: “Not a chance – not for diamonds! It works very well as it is, but working with families is a tricky thing.

“Myself and Willie have our own way of working together, but Willie likes calling the shots, so I don’t think that he’d be giving away any power.”

Danny Mullins could hardly be flying higher ahead of his return to the Cotswolds after an opening-day Grade One treble at the Dublin Racing Festival.

None of the trio were the yard’s first string and he will once again be feeding off stable jockey Paul Townend’s scraps at Prestbury Park, but it is a good position to be in nonetheless.

Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins celebrate the Irish Arkle success of Il Etait Temps at the Dublin Racing Festival
Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins celebrate the Irish Arkle success of Il Etait Temps at the Dublin Racing Festival (Damien Eagers/PA)

“Knowing where I come from and the team that we’re with, things are definitely going to change. Paul will have his pick again,” he said.

“The Dublin Racing Festival has been very good for me. I suppose the novices are tricky at that time of the season for Paul to get a true read on and come Cheltenham, he normally doesn’t get it wrong, but hopefully we’ll find a way of making him get it wrong at some point!

“The whole team is just so strong and Willie is building year on year. All owners and jockeys know what can happen, Willie does his best with everything, they go to war and the best one comes out on top.

“I won’t know until Paul’s had his pick and Willie sees who he wants to put on the rest of them. Anything can happen, all of Willie’s are going there to do their best and fingers crossed Paul might get it wrong somewhere and I might be the beneficiary of that.”

The Mullins cousins might have contrasting fashion sense, but what they do share is a fervent hunger for more Festival success.

It would be a brave man who bets against one or even both getting to walk into the sport’s most famous winner’s enclosure next week.

Il Etait Temps takes Irish Arkle, as Marine Nationale disappoints

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It Etait Temps completed a dream hour for Danny Mullins when winning the Goffs Irish Arkle at Leopardstown, where Marine Nationale was a huge disappointment back in fifth place.

Having already won the opening two Grade Ones on Dancing City and Kargese, Mullins was riding full of confidence, but faced huge opposition in the shape of Barry Connell’s unbeaten Marine Nationale – not to mention Facile Vega, a stablemate of the Willie Mullins-trained winner.

It was Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty who ensured there was to be no hanging about and with Facile Vega on his heels, there was no letting up in the pace.

Sent off the 4-7 favourite, Marine Nationale had been settled in third, but his jumping was not as assured as on his debut and Il Etait Temps moved passed him down the back straight.

As the field turned in Marine Nationale briefly threatened to take a hand, but a bad mistake at the last sealed his fate.

Found A Fifty looked like he had done enough to hold on, but Il Etait Temps gamely dug in to win by a neck at 6-1.

The winner is now 5-1 from 14s for the Arkle at Cheltenham with Coral.

Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins celebrate winning the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase with Il Etait Temps
Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins celebrate winning the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase with Il Etait Temps (Damien Eagers/PA)

“Danny is just on fire today,” said Mullins.

“This horse is improving, his jumping is improving and he’s settling as well. He didn’t have much respect for hurdles, but he has far more respect for fences and that’s bringing out improvement in him.

“It just shows you that chasers come in all shapes and sizes, he’s not the biggest horse in the world. He’s obviously very effective over this trip and we’ll look forward to the Arkle in Cheltenham.

“He showed plenty of resolution and Danny just timed his run well.

“Facile Vega will probably stay at that trip as well. I was very happy with him, even though he got beaten. I saw a lot in the race to say that he’s coming along and improving as well.”

Il Etait Temps had plenty of ground to make up on Found A Fifty after the last
Il Etait Temps had plenty of ground to make up on Found A Fifty after the last (Damien Eagers/PA)

The jubilant winning rider said: “I think my mum cooked me eggs for breakfast and I’ll definitely be back tomorrow!

“That was a good performance, on known form I thought I’d be in the mix but he’s definitely improving.

“I don’t think the others bombed out, they ran their races and he was just better than them.”

Marine Nationale tasted the first defeat of his career
Marine Nationale tasted the first defeat of his career (Niall Carson/PA)

Jockey Michael O’Sullivan could offer no excuses for the beaten odds-on favourite and said: “He travelled very well, I followed Facile Vega and was where I wanted to be.

“He settled, travelled, jumped and did everything right but after the second-last he didn’t get into gear like he normally does.

“He made a mistake at the last, but I was easing off him by then. No excuses.

“He was a small bit careful over the fourth-last, but other than that I couldn’t put if forward as an excuse. I hope something will show up as he’s better than that. It’s just disappointing.”

On Found A Fifty, Elliott said: “I was gutted, but the horse and jockey didn’t do anything wrong. The horse ran a great race and just got touched off. He’s a good horse and he’ll go to Cheltenham with a chance.

“We knew it was going to be a tough couple of days and said if we could pull a winner out of each day we’d be happy.

“The horses are running well and we’ve a lot of nice horses at home.

“We might lose the battle over these couple of days, but we won’t lose the war. Cheltenham is only around the corner and we’re looking forward to it.”

Kargese claims victory in Spring Juvenile Hurdle

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Kargese came out on top of the Willie Mullins battalion in the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, with the trainer sending out the first four home.

Six of the 10 runners hailed from Mullins’ Closutton yard, with stable number one Paul Townend plumping for the once-raced Storm Heart.

Another from Team Mullins was JP McManus’ Majborough and he attempted to make all under Mark Walsh, looking a fine long-term prospect in the process, but turning into the straight, the race began to change complexion.

Townend tried to follow Kargese (7-2) through but it soon became apparent that Danny Mullins was holding on to a lot more on the eventual winner.

Just like 12 months ago, when Mullins on Gala Marceau got the better of Townend on Lossiemouth, it was the same sinking feeling for the champion jockey, especially as he had also got the choice wrong in the opener, as he watched Mullins on Dancing City pull away from him.

Kargese runs in the famous Honeysuckle silks, like Gala Marceau, and owner Kenny Alexander has another nice filly for the future, as she won by a length and a quarter from Storm Heart, with Majborough another half a length back in third and Bunting a close fourth.

She was cut to 8-1 from 25s by Coral for the Triumph Hurdle, for which Sir Gino is favourite.

“She was too keen with Danny at Christmas,” said Mullins.

Kargese with Kenny Alexander (left) and Willie Mullins
Kargese with Kenny Alexander (left) and Willie Mullins (right)

“The plan today was to make the running and it just shows you that we don’t even know what we’re doing at this stage!

“Next thing, Mark (Walsh) jumped out and made the running, his horse was galloping and Danny settled the filly in. She was much more settled today after blowing away the cobwebs at Christmas.

“Mark was very happy with Majborough and thinks he’ll improve for that run. He gallops and jumps and he’s more of a chaser to look at.

“Paul felt that Storm Heart probably got stuck in the ground and was a bit keen with him as well.

“I was delighted with the way Bunting stayed on from behind, he was doing his best work at the end and is improving as well.

“They all ran well today and have booked their tickets for the Triumph.

“It’s going to be hard to beat Nicky Henderson’s horse, Sir Gino. We have our work cut out with him.”

Dancing City springs surprise in DRF opener

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The Dublin Racing Festival began as many expected with a Willie Mullins-trained winner, but not with the one most predicted, as complete outsider Dancing City beat favourite Predators Gold in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

With Paul Townend plumping for Predators Gold from the four Mullins runners, punters took that as a clear hint he was seen as the number one contender, despite stepping up six furlongs in trip from his Christmas outing.

Townend settled the market leader at the rear, as Danny Mullins on Dancing City (16-1) set out to make the running at a sedate tempo, but Rachael Blackmore was having none of it and after half a mile Jetara was allowed to stride on.

Blackmore had a scary moment approaching the second last when she lost her left stirrup but was soon back on an even keel, although the Mullins pair loomed up on the turn for home.

Predators Gold had every chance on the outside but Dancing City kept on finding for pressure and went on to win by a length and a quarter. To Jetara’s credit, she stuck on gamely for third.

Danny Mullins celebrates winning the opener
Danny Mullins celebrates winning the opener (Damien Eagers/PA)

“It was great, I thought the extra trip would suit him,” said Mullins.

“Danny was good on him again, he always just pops up when you least think it!

“I thought Predators Gold might win the race, but Paul said he was doing a little too much throughout.

“That ground is a lot softer than we thought it would be. I think that suited Dancing City more.”

He went on: “The point-to-point experience he had let him settle more, he spat out the bit early on whereas Paul’s fella was too keen, we ran him over two miles at Christmas and that made him a little keen for this, going up in trip.

“I think he (the winner) looks ready made for the Albert Bartlett, he has the experience, he goes the trip and he’ll handle the ground. That’s where we hope he’ll go.

“It was a good performance, he’s improving and on the up. Predators Gold looks more like a Ballymore horse.

“I was disappointed with Loughglynn and I Will Be Baie just couldn’t handle the ground. Loughglynn didn’t jump early on and got worse as the race went on, that was a big disappointment.

“I’m here to find out as well, we think we know but If we did know we’d probably all be driving bigger cars!”

The winner was cut to 12-1 from 50s for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham by Betfair.

Danny Mullins makes light of Limerick exchange

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Danny Mullins has played down his altercation with cousin Patrick Mullins following the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Thursday.

Patrick ultimately claimed a comfortable victory in the race on board his father Willie’s Gaelic Warrior, with Danny five and a half lengths back in second on stablemate Il Etait Temps.

However, the pair did come close when Danny attempted to sneak up the inner on the run to the second-last and Patrick appeared to react angrily to that incident as they pulled up after the finishing line.

The stewards looked into the episode but Danny later made light of the whole affair via his regular diary on the Tote Twitter site.

He joked: “The main question on everybody’s lips is what did Patrick say? I don’t fully recall what he did say, I think it was something along the lines of ‘Danny, get a haircut’, but I’m happy with my hair as it is at the moment.”

On a more serious note, Danny added: “It’s one of those things, I’m always going to ride to win the race and that’s what I have to do for my owners and we had a go and unfortunately I finished second – but we had a go and that was the main thing.”

Regarding the incident approaching the penultimate fence, Patrick Mullins earlier said: “I told Danny going out that there will be a gap on my inside going down to the second-last and ‘do not come for it’ but he hasn’t listened to me. Luckily it didn’t get the two of us beaten.”

Willie Mullins was at Leopardstown, where he told Racing TV with a wry smile: “I had my son and my nephew trying to kill each other going to the second-last. I don’t know what Patrick said to Danny, but I don’t imagine they’ll be going home in the same car anyhow!

“Danny was riding his horse and he had to try to go for Grade One glory on his horse. Anyhow, it will make fun for this evening when we are disseminating the whole thing.”

The stewards investigated the incident two out and took no action, but also inquired about Patrick Mullins’ post-race comments.

The report read: “The Raceday Stewards interviewed Mr. P.W. Mullins, rider of Gaelic Warrior, and D.E. Mullins, rider of Il Etait Temps, regarding comments made to the media about an incident on the run to the second-last.

“Mr. P.W. Mullins stated that he had advised D.E. Mullins during a conversation prior to the race that he would be leaving a gap down the inner to get a breather into his horse and he advised him not to go for it.

“D.E. Mullins confirmed the conversation happened as such. Having considered all the evidence, the Raceday Stewards referred the matter on to a Senior Racing Official.”

Big Leopardstown handicap goes to Meetingofthewaters

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Meetingofthewaters provided his owner Paul Byrne with another big payday after scooting to victory in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

With a total prize fund of €200,000 up for grabs, the three-mile contest is one of the most valuable handicap chases of the season in Ireland and once again attracted a bumper field of 27 runners.

Meetingofthewaters (6-1) was rated just 112 when snapped up by Patrick Mullins out of Eugene O’Sullivan’s yard earlier in the year – and while he was well beaten in his first two starts over fences in his colours and under the tutelage of his father Willie, he was a well-backed favourite when making it third time lucky in lesser company at Cork last month.

Having since been sold to a close friend of the Mullins family in Byrne, who has previously enjoyed big-race success with the likes of The Shunter, Corbetts Cross and Feronily, the six-year-old travelled smoothly into the straight under Danny Mullins and dug deep from the final fence to see off the rallying Panda Boy by four and a half lengths.

Meetingofthewaters with his delighted connections at Leopardstown
Meetingofthewaters with his delighted connections at Leopardstown (Alan Magee/PA)

Mullins said: “It’s a fantastic result for Paul Byrne. Patrick has a lot to do with (training) this fellow, but I think he was hoping he’d be a Kim Muir horse and that is gone out the window now!

“It’s great prize-money and a tremendous prize to win with a horse like that.

“Paul is great at seeing gaps in the market when buying horses. He’s able to spot horses rather than paying big money. He has an eye for a horse and is able to put a deal together. He probably looks for horses in places that other people don’t.

“He won nicely in Cork and was a young horse improving all the time. It’s a bit of a lottery when you go into a race like this but when you get in at those weights it’s always worth having a crack.”

Joystick and Patrick Mullins winning at Leopardstown
Joystick and Patrick Mullins winning at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Meetingofthewaters was one of three winners on the card for the champion trainer, with Mark Walsh steering Dinoblue (9-4) to Grade One success in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase and Joystick toughing out victory as the 11-8 favourite in the concluding bumper under Patrick Mullins.

Mullins, who enjoyed an across-the-card seven-timer on the day with four winners at Limerick, said of Joystick, he said: “He was third in a point-to-point and we went down to see him at the Doyles. He’s a nice staying type and a real chaser in the making.

“He’s a real long-striding, old-fashioned chaser and a nice acquisition. He’ll stick with bumpers this season.”

Intellotto made a successful start to his career over obstacles in the Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

Intellotto (left) challenges at Leopardstown
Intellotto (left) challenges at Leopardstown (Niall Carson/PA)

Placed twice from three starts on the Flat for trainer Joseph O’Brien, the 10-1 shot travelled smoothly on his jumping bow and passed the post with four and a half lengths in hand under Daryl Jacob.

Paddy Power make Intellotto a 25-1 shot for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

O’Brien said: “The ground was softer than we thought it was going to be but it was a lovely debut. Daryl taught him a lot and he jumped pretty well on the whole.

“I think the logical step would be to come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”

One Last Tango and Mark Walsh hit the front
One Last Tango and Mark Walsh hit the front (Niall Carson/PA)

The Eoin Griffin-trained One Last Tango (4-1) carried the JP McManus colours to victory in the Paddy Power Who Put The Wrappers Back In The Box Handicap Hurdle, completing a double on the card for the leading owner and jockey Mark Walsh following the earlier Grade One success of Dinoblue.

Griffin said: “He had a promising run on his return when finishing fourth at Navan and he’s come on a little bit from it.

“I was a bit concerned about the ground today, but he handled it well and it’s brilliant to get a winner here at Christmas for JP. It’s been a while since we had a Christmas winner and we’re over the moon.”