Following a family tradition *

Mrs Noreen McManus, Thomas Mullins, Mrs Maureen Mullins, AP McCoy and JP McManus recieve their trophies image: huffingtonpost.co.uk

THE MULLINS family has a long and storied history at the Cheltenham festival and another chapter in that fable was written on Friday when Tom Mullins became the latest family member to have a Cheltenham winner.

Alderwood, ridden by AP McCoy and sporting the famous green and gold JP McManus silks, was the horse to write another member of the Mullins dynasty into Cheltenham lore in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.

The delighted trainer said that training a festival winner was everything he had hoped it would be. “It was fantastic. It was everything everyone ever said it would be. They always said it was a great feeling to win at Cheltenham and it was great to get the monkey off my back,” he said.

He is now the fourth member of his family to train a Cheltenham winner, following his late father Paddy and brothers Willie and Tony into the hallowed turf of the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure.

“They had all trained winners there and I knew that it I would too and that it would come at some stage and I’m glad that it was this year. We have all trained winners there now.”

During the race it seemed unlikely that Alderwood would add to his trainer’s illustrious family history. Sixteen times champion jockey AP McCoy had the horse settled in a nice position on the inside rail and Alderwood was travelling well as the field turned for home. However going round the final bend the pair were squeezed for room and badly hampered. 

The incident halted their momentum and coming at such a crucial stage of the race it looked to have cost them all chance of glory. The champion jockey got Alderwood going again and galvanized the horse for a chance of glory. Alderwood joined the leaders at the last hurdle and powered clear on the run up the hill. It was McCoy’s first winner of the meeting and a third for owner JP McManus.

The trainer feared that the incident had cost Alderwood any chance he had in the race. “He was going fine but Paul Carberry on Plan A came in on top of him and shut him off. Turning in, it looked like it was over. His head went up in the air and when that happens horses don’t usually come back. In all fairness to the horse and jockey they held their heads together and never gave and battled on up the hill to the line.”

Alderwood had a bit of heart trouble after running at Leopardstown the last day when the racecourse vet found his heart to be clinically abnormal. Extensive testing by his own vet could find no problem with the horse’s heart at any stage after that and Alderwood was in good form so it was decided to let him take his chance at the festival. “We had to pick up the pieces after Leopardstown and hope for the best. He was going well and there was no reason not to go to Cheltenham with him,” he explained.

Just over an hour after riding his first winner of the meeting, AP McCoy claimed his second winner in the highlight of the week, the Gold Cup. He was wearing those famous green and gold hoops again as Alderwood’s owner enjoyed a week to remember with his first ever Gold Cup winner, the home bred Synchronised. JP McManus loves Cheltenham winners and Tom Mullins was delighted to be able to train one for the Limerick man.

“We put McCoy in a good state of mind going out for the Gold Cup after riding one for us!” Mullins quipped. “It was great to train a Cheltenham winner for JP. He loves festival winners especially at Cheltenham.”

The level of his family’s achievement at Cheltenham is staggering. In a festival that returned just five Irish winners, four of them were trained by a man called Mullins. “It was nice that four out of the five Irish winners were trained by a Mullins! We thought Ireland would have more winners but it just ended up that way,” he said.

The next generation is carrying on the family tradition with Tom’s nephews Patrick and Emmet already successful there as jockeys. The Mullins family and Cheltenham is a story that is set to run and run. “The Mullins family is written in stone over there now!” he adds.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 20 March 2012

Champagne Fever saves the day*

Patrick Mullins and Champagne Fever in the winners' enclosure image: PA

“It was magic, just magic,” Patrick Mullins describes the incredible feeling of winning a race at the Cheltenham Festival. It is something all jockeys dream of doing and last Wednesday Patrick made his Cheltenham dream come true for the second time on Champagne Fever in the Champion Bumper.

It had been a difficult start to the week for the Mullins team. Hurricane Fly disappointed in third when attempting to win back to back Champion hurdles and in the race after Hurricane Fly’s eclipse Scotsirish, who Patrick was riding, lost his life.

“It got off to a bit of a bad start. Scotsirish is a huge loss. He had been in the yard for a long time and he was more like a pet than a race horse. But Champagne Fever saved the day,” he said.

Willie Mullins had trained six winners of the Champion Bumper prior to last week but unusually his two runners were not heading the betting for the Irish this time round. Champagne Fever was sent off at 16/1 and Pique Sous, the mount of Ruby Walsh, at 12/1. The English had trained the winner of the bumper last year and it was another English horse who was made favourite. New Year’s Eve and Barry Geraghty were sent off the 9/2 favourites to make it two bumper winners in a row for the home team.

Mullins adopted clever front running tactics on board the grey son of Stowaway when he was an impressive winner of a Fairyhouse maiden last time out after he finished second on his debut at Leopardstown over Christmas.

“We thought he was the best of ours. On St. Stephen’s Day we rode him normally there, we held him up but he was beaten by a flat bred horse of Tony Martin’s. He is by Danehill Dancer and he beat him for speed. So the next day we decided to use his long stride and high cruising speed and set off in front and he won,” explained Patrick.

These tactics proved successful and Champagne Fever ran out an impressive winner of his second start at Fairyhouse. They decided to repeat the winning formula at Cheltenham and it worked to perfection. “We decided to jump off in front and let him set his own pace and use his cruising speed and see if that got the others out of their comfort zone,” he added

As the horses turned for home, Patrick and Champagne Fever were still leading but Pique Sous and the favourite, New Year’s Eve were looming in behind and looked to be serious threats to Champagne Fever’s bid for glory.

“I didn’t realize that Barry was there but Ruby let a shout at me to watch my inner going round the home turn. A furlong out Ruby said ‘You have me beat’ but  I knew another horse was there but he kept on finding for me.”

It’s been four years since Patrick had his first taste of Cheltenham glory on board Cousin Vinny and second time round victory was accompanied by different sensations.

“It’s magic, just magic. It doesn’t matter who was second it’s just great to win. It’s different to Cousin Vinny because he wasn’t as fancied coming into the race. I was going into the race a bit down about Scotsirish as well.”

Mullins paid tribute to Rich Ricci, Champagne Fever’s owner. “It’s fantastic for Rich Ricci to have a Cheltenham winner. He puts a lot of money and effort into the game. He let me ride his horse and it was great to win and reward his faith in me,” he said.

A faith that was richly rewarded ended in a magical moment in the Cotswolds for the Carlow jockey. “It’s what you dream of as a jockey to be in the winners’ enclosure at Cheltenham.” 

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist  20 March 2012

Mullins family keep Irish flag flying at Cheltenham *

Tuesday

Connections celebrate Quevega's fourth mares' hurdle victory image:breakingnews.ie

The first day of the festival was supposed to be the coronation of hurdling’s undisputed king. Hurricane Fly, the defending champion, was returning to Cheltenham to take on Binocular, the only horse many saw as having genuine pretensions to his throne. He did banish any pretensions the 2010 champion had of regaining his crown by finishing ahead of him but there was a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle as Rock on Ruby and Noel Fehil stormed up the hill to victory and deny the brave and determined Overturn in second. It was a thrilling finish to the first championship race but not the result everyone had been expecting. The defending champion could only manage third and the sense of anti climax was palpable. His disappointed trainer offered no excuses and hopefully Hurricane Fly will be back to his best for Punchestown.

Instead Quevega was crowned the queen of Cheltenham. It had been a difficult afternoon for the Mullins team. They had come to Prestbury Park with high hopes for their star but suffered crushing disappointment when he failed to retain his title. Sadly worse was to follow for them in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. Stable stalwart Scotsirish had been relishing the switch to banks races this season and was sent off favourite to land the spoils in a race the Irish have dominated since its inception. Sadly, he lost his life on his way round the course along with Garde Champetre, another old warrior and legend of the cross country game. The race turned up its first ever English trained winner. A despondent air of gloom settled around the Irish. Five races in, good things and certainties beaten and not a single Irish winner. It wasn’t meant to be like this and people were getting anxious.

They need not have worried. Quevega came along to rescue the Irish on the opening day. Willie Mullins’s mare was bidding for her fourth Grade 2 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle in a row and remarkably this was the third year she was making her seasonal reappearance in the race. This time the race wasn’t run to suit her but it made no difference to this amazing mare. Settled in mid division by Ruby Walsh in a slowly run race, she steadily made ground running down the hill. For one moment it seemed like the gap she needed wouldn’t come but for once on this opening day, the Mullins team got the breaks they needed. She accelerated through the gap and a fine jump at the last hurdle settled the issue. Quevega galloped up the hill away from her rivals for an incredible fourth triumph in the race. Her return to the winners’ enclosure was greeted with a mixture of joy and relief by an ecstatic Irish crowd. It was a fantastic victory by the mare and a wonderful training performance by Willie Mullins to keep bringing her back year after year without a prep run for this race and ready to perform to her best.

Quevega now heads for the Grade One Ladbrokes’ World Series Hurdle at Punchestown next month where she will be going for a hat trick of victories and will be taken on by Voler la Vedette.

Locally trained horses were mainly out of luck on day one. Jessica Harrington’s Steps to Freedom and Dermot Welds’ Galileo’s Choice had been near the head of the market for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but both finished disappointingly down the field. It was left to the Dessie Hughes trained White Star Line to do best of the Kildare horses after Quevega when he chased home handicap marvel Hunt Ball in the day’s closing race, the Pulteney Land investments’ Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Wednesday

Patrick Mullins and Champagne Fever save the best for last image: getty images

And so on to the second day of the meeting. The marvelous thing about Cheltenham is that no matter what has happened the day before, the dawn always brings a renewed sense of optimism and hope for what’s to come. There was no local banker today but in the amateur race Mullins’ had Allee Garde and Soll who were both fancied to run big races. Unfortunately Allee Garde and Patrick Mullins fell early on in the race and brought down Soll and Katie Walsh. The early optimism started to dissipate and it was beginning to look like one of those days.

In the Neptune Investments’ Novice Hurdle the Irish had some good challengers but in the end they all had to play second fiddle to Simonsig and Barry Geraghty who were imperious. Paul Townend and Felix Yonger were best of the Irish in second for Willie Mullins but seven lengths behind Nicky Henderson’s brilliant grey.

We had to wait until the very last race of the day to get our first winner of the afternoon and only our second winner of the entire meeting. The bumper has become synonymous with Willie Mullins and he had trained six winners of the race prior to last week. This time the punters didn’t have the same confidence in his pair of runners and made the John Ferguson trained New Year’s Eve the favourite. Barry Geraghty enjoyed one of the best days of his career at Cheltenham last Wednesday, winning three Grade One races and he was looking to make it four in the bumper.

Patrick Mullins, on board Champagne Fever, set off in front to use the horses’ high cruising speed and long stride to his advantage. Rounding the final bend he looked to be in danger from Geraghty and Ruby Walsh, riding Mullins’ other horse, Pique Sous. Champagne Fever kept finding more for his jockey to deny Geraghty his four timer, with Pique Sous in third. It was a wonderful way to end the day after what had been an emotional rollercoaster but a very difficult twenty four hours for the team.

Thursday

Sir Des Champs and Davy Russell clear the last image: independent.ie

In racing a performance that brings joy in the present can also give a sense of hope and anticipation for even better days ahead and more glory to come in the future. The Willie Mullins trained Sir Des Champs did exactly that in Thursday. In the opening Jewson Novices’ Chase Sir Des Champs got the afternoon off to a flying start. His performance had everyone imagining the glory days ahead and the big dark bay horse taking his chance in next year’s Gold Cup. It was a victory to savour for the moment as well. Sir Des Champs was running over the furthest trip he had ever attempted but travelled smoothly throughout the race. His jumping was foot perfect and he did everything he was asked to by Davy Russell. He joined long time leader Champion Court on the run to the second last. Russell didn’t ask the horse to go for it until they had cleared the final fence and his response was immediate. He powered impressively up the hill to go away from his rival and the impression he made on everyone watching, at the course and at home, was of a talented horse with gold in his future.

Unfortunately it could only go one way from there for the local horses and that was downhill. Big Bucks’ wrote himself into the history books with an astounding performance in the Ladbroke’s World Hurdle. The beautiful horse secured his fourth victory in a row in the Grade One for staying hurdlers. His closest pursuer was the Colm Murphy trained Voler la Vedette who ran a super race under a fantastic ride from jockey Andrew Lynch to finish best of the rest in second for her Gorey trainer. Thousand Stars was best of the local horses back in fourth.

Friday

Victorious Alderwood and AP McCoy in the winners' enclosure image: independent.ie

And so on to Gold Cup day, racing’s blue riband and for many the jewel in Cheltenham’s crown. First off was the small matter of one of the irish bankers for the week, Boston Bob. The Willie Mullins trained gelding created quite an impression when winning a Grade One at Navan and then defying a penalty and tough conditions at Leopardstown on his next start. Once his Cheltenham assignment became clear last week he was backed into favouritism for the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.  Boston Bob and Ruby Walsh took a while to get going and failed to peg back Brindisi Breeze on the run to the line. Another Irish banker vanquished at the festival.

The only locally trained representatives in the Gold Cup were the Willie Mullins pair of Quel Esprit and The Midnight Club. Quel Esprit, who won the Henessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month, was Ireland’s leading contender for the race and looked to have place claims at least. Our chances in the big one were dealt a hammer blow during the morning with the news that Quel Esprit would not run in the Gold Cup. He was lame so stablemate The Midnight Club was the sole local horse in the race. The Gold Cup was an emotional and Irish victory. Synchronised maybe trained in Jackdaw’s Castle, near Cheltenham but the little horse with the big white face and heart of a lion was bred in Ireland by his owner, the legendary JP McManus and trained by Gold Cup winning Irish jockey Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by the sixteen times champion jockey from Antrim AP McCoy.

It was a special day for JP McManus, who won his first Gold Cup and a special day for Carlow trainer Tom Mullins who added to his family’s illustrious Cheltenham story by training the winner of the County Hurdle, Alderwood for the Gold Cup winning owner and jockey. It was McCoy’s first winner of the meeting and rounding the home turn it looked like he would do well to get close having met with interference but the champion jockey regrouped Alderwood and delivered him with a challenge at the last flight and he powered up the hill to the delight of his trainer to add another Mullins name to the Cheltenham roll of honour.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 20 March 2012 

Local hopes for Cheltenham *

Tuesday

Quevega image: racingpost.com

1.30pm Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1

There is plenty of local interest in the opening race of Cheltenham 2012. Irish trained horses have a good record in this race, winning six of the last ten renewals and there is a strong chance of a seventh. Willie Mullins saddles three and Midnight Game seems to be his leading hope. Jockey bookings for his horses were not available when going to press but it may be significant that Ruby Walsh has elected to ride Prospect Wells for Paul Nicholls and Davy Russell has chosen Gigginstown House Stud’s Trifolium over Midnight Game. Galileo’s Choice was an impressive winner at Fairyhouse last time and Dermot Weld’s gelding was second to Sous Les Cieux in a Grade One at that track before Christmas. Distatn Memories represents Tom Taaffe. Steps to Freedom is unbeaten over hurdles for Jessica Harrington and won the Aintree Bumper last season. As a course and distance winner, he has an edge over some of his rivals and could get Kildare off to a flying start.

Allure of Illusion 40/1

Midnight Game 10/1

Simenon 33/1

Steps to Freedom 6/1

Galileo’s Choice 7/1

Distant Memories 50/1

2.05 Arkle Novices’ Chase Grade 1

The only locally trained horse in this race is Willie Mullins’ Blackstairmountain. Ruby Walsh will not be on board Blackstairmountain as he has chosen to ride Paul Nicholls’ Al Ferof who is the biggest threat to the favourite, Sprinter Sacre. Blackstairmountain has won twice over fences but was well beaten by Flemenstar at Leopardstown last time. Better ground should bring an improvement but he is probably not good enough to win.

Blackstairmountain 14/1

2.40 JLT Speciality Handicap Chase Grade 3

The only local horse with an entry in this race is Magnanimity. Dessie Hughes’ gelding was only a length behind Bostons Angel in the RSA Chase last year and while he hasn’t quite returned to that level of form this year, the better ground he will get here should bring an improvement but he has been given 11-1 to carry.

Magnanimity 14/1

3.20 Champion Hurdle Grade 1

This race is all about Hurricane Fly. The defending champion is the best hurdler since Istabraq. He had an interrupted early part of the season but a stunning performance in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the end of January confirmed he is as good as ever. Despite the apparently rejuvenated Binocular in the field, the race looks his to lose.

Stable companion Zaidpour takes his chance and will be ridden by Paul Townend. He is a talented horse and unbeaten this season but this is a huge step up in class for him.

Jessica Harrington runs Oscars Well who beat Zaidpour in a Grade One last season. He was unlucky at last year’s Festival and has been running well without winning this term. He chased home Hurricane Fly last time out and the better ground and faster gallop will help him. He has place claims.

Hurricane Fly 4/5 fav

Zaidpour 33/1

Oscars Well 12/1

4.00 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase

There is little to choose between the Willie Mullins trained pair of Scotsirish and Uncle Junior. They head the weights and the betting. Uncle Junior has won around this track and Scotsirish has won at Punchestown. Both have beaten Garde Champetre who won this race in 2009 and has a good record over banks. At the time of going to press jockey bookings hadn’t been finalized.

Scotsirish 5/2

Uncle Junior 4/1

4.40 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle Grade 2

What can you say about Quevega? The stellar mare is bidding for her fourth win in this race in a row. She just turns up at the Festival and without a prep run and obliterates her rivals. Stable companion Dare to Doubt also runs. She won a chase on her last start and will be ridden by Paul Townend. Peter Fahey’s Shop DJ has been mixing races on the flat and over hurdles and fences with success and she was victorious on the level at Dundalk last time out. She will be ridden by Davy Russell. Arthur Moore’s What a Charm won the Fred Winter at last year’s Festival and if she recaptures her sparkle she could run into a place but it looks like second is the best any of these girls can hope for!

Quevega 1/2 fav

What A Charm 25/1

Dare to Doubt 20/1

Shop DJ 16/1

5.15 Pulteney Land Investments Novices Handicap Chase Listed

Another one for Dessie Hughes, White Star Line is the sole local representative in the last race today. He has yet to win over fences but was third to Hidden Cyclone on his last start. He has some top class novice hurdle from last season, finishing second to both Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant but has a lot of weight to carry for what he has achieved so far. Davy Russell is on board.

White Star Line 14/1

Wednesday

Jezki (left) makes a winning debut image: irishracing.com

1.30 Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase

Most horses are running over four miles for the first time in this race for amateur jockeys. Carlow’s Willie Mullins has two entries - Allee Garde and Soll. Both horses are prominent in the betting. Allee Garde will probably be ridden by Patrick Mullins. Soll has never been out of the first two in two point to points and three track races. Daffern Seal for Dermot Weld represents Kildare. He hasn’t run since August but has won two of his four starts. He is likely to be ridden by Robbie McNamara.

Allee Garde 7/1

Soll 15/2

Daffern Seal 25/1

2.05 Neptune Investments’ Novices Hurdle Grade 1

Willie Mullins has two top class horses entered in this. Make Your Mark is a lovely horse who looks to have a bright future ahead of him. His sole defeat in three races was at Leopardstown when he finished third behind Boston Bob on very testing ground that didn’t suit him. Sous Les Cieux came from France with a big reputation and won the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December but disappointed at Leopardstown at Christmas. He just failed to catch Benefficient in the Deloitte Hurdle last month and he cannot be ruled out.

Make Your Mark 12/1

Sous Les Cieux 8/1

2.40 RSA Chase Grade 1

Three representatives for Willie Mullins in this - Call the Police, Lambro and Sir Des Champs. Sir Des Champs is a hugely exciting horse. He won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at the festival last year. He is unbeaten in his five starts for Mullins and he is highly thought of. Even if Grands Crus runs he has a great chance. Lambro has some good form to his name. He beat Shinrock Paddy in a Grade Two at Naas in November and since then has been placed behind Flemenstar and Last Instalment. Call the Police is inexperienced as he has only run twice over fences and finished second to Last Instalment in the Grade One PJ Moriarty at Leopardstown last month.

Sir Des Champs 4/1

Lambro 25/1

Call the Police 25/1

4.00 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

The handicaps can be notoriously difficult to predict and there are huge entries. At the time of going to print cards hadn’t been finalized. Many of the Irish horses have been penalized by the handicapper so it may be hard to get many Irish winners. Final Approach won a Festival handicap last year – the County Hurdle but has won only once since. He has been running in good races but still the handicapper’s decision to allot him 11-6 is steep. Dessie Hughes’ Stonemaster carries 11-2 despite not winning for a year. Thomas Mullins has Alderwood in the JP McManus colours and he is set to carry 10 -10. Prince Erik holds multiple handicap entries. Dermot Weld’s grey was fancied for last year’s Irish Grand National but only managed 12^th. He’llberemembered will need a few of those above him in the handicap to come out if he is to get a run but with a light weight on his back he could be competitive. He won at Naas in October and since then has been placed in some competitive handicap hurdles for Nurney based Paul Fahey

Final Approach 25/1

Stonemaster 50/1

Alderwood 25/1

Prince Erik 33/1

He’llberemembered  33/1

4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

Three local possibilities for the four year old handicap hurdle. Argocat for Tom Taaffe has run three times over hurdles and was victorious last time out in Thurles two months ago. He will carry 11-8. Gorgeous Sixty has not shown her best form since coming from France but if she were to regain that she would have a small chance for Willie Mullins. Chill is Dessie Hughes’ representative and has just one win from six starts over hurdles but has been keeping good company.

Argocat 16/1

Gorgeous Sixty 20/1

Chill Dessie 25/1

5.15 Champion Bumper Grade 1

Willie Mullins has become synonymous with this race and Pique Sous and Champagne Fever will bid to give him his seventh winner in the race. Champagne Fever disappointed slightly at Leopardstown at Christmas but has been disputing favouritism for this race since an impressive Fairyhouse win in January. Pique Sous showed a turbo charged turn of foot under Patrick Mullins to land a Leopardstown bumper last month. Jezki has won both his bumpers and Jessica Harrington’s charge is one of Ireland’s main hopes of taking the prize across the Irish Sea.

Champagne Fever 8/1

Pique Sous 12/1

Jezki 16/1

Thursday

Sir Des Champs and Emmet Mullins victorious at last year's festival image: sportinglife.com

1.30 Jewson Novices’ Chase Grade 2

Willie Mullins has Call the Police, Lambro and Sir Des Champs all entered for this as well. If Sir Des Champs runs here he has a fantastic chance of winning.  In the absence of their stable companion Call the Police and Lambro may have place claims.

Sir Des Champs 4/1

Call the Police 9/1

Lambro 14/1

2.05 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final Listed

Dessie Hughes Rick ran well behind Mourad and Mikael D’Haguenet on his last two starts but hasn’t won since he beat Blackstairmountain in January last year. For all that, his weight of 10-12 is a heavy enough burden. Willie Mullins Sergeant Guib’s has finished third on both his Irish starts but again his weight of 10-12 seems harsh for what he’s done over here. Jessica Harrington has Jetson, a half brother to Jezki entered in this race. He stayed on well to win the qualifier at Leopaardstown over Christmas. Jetson was allotted 10-4 and off a nice enough weight he could run well but he needs a couple to come out. This is another handicap hurdle that Prince Erik is entered in.

Prince Erik 25/1

Jetson 16/1

Rick 25/1

Sergeant Guib’s 20/1

2.40 Ryanair Chase Grade 1

Willie Mullins’ Blazing Tempo is an admirably consistent mare. The Galway Plate winner has been on the go since May and has won four out of her six races in that time including beating Noble Prince at Fairyhouse last time out. Admittedly that was over an inadequate trip for Paul Nolan’s charge who is a lot shorter in the betting for this race. The Ryanair is a hot contest this year but on her form Blazing Tempo is entitled to take her chance.

Blazing Tempo 20/1

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle Grade 1

Willie Mullins has four contenders for this - Mikael D’Haguenet, Mourad, Thousand Stars and So Young. Thousand Stars is running here instead of the Champion Hurdle and he has fantastic place claims. Big Bucks’ is going for four in a row and is unbeaten in fifteen starts and will be a tough nut to crack.  Oscar Whisky has never run over three miles before. Thousand Stars is a festival winner and ran Oscar Whisky to a head in a Grade One at  Aintree last April and then went on to win the Grade One French Champion Hurdle over three miles two furlongs. He has since added a second Grade One He is a lovely consistent horse and over this longer distance he may be the one to rain on Big Bucks’ parade. So Young is unbeaten this season but this is a step up in class for him. Mourad has been placed in this race before and beat former festival winner Mikael D’Haguenet at Navan last time out.

Thousand Stars 8/1

So Young 14/1

Mourad 16/1

Mikael D’Haguenet 25/1

4.00 Byrne Group Plate Grade 3

Tom Taaffe’s Finger Onthe Pulse is the sole Kildare entry in this race. He beat Barbers Shop in the Jewson four years ago but is an 11 year old now. He won the 2010 Galway Plate but JP McManus’ gelding has only won once in his eight starts since that victory. He hasn’t been seen on track since falling here in December.

Finger Onthe Pulse 33/1

4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase

Willie Mullins has Up the Beat entered in this but he has top weight and is just a novice and his jockey Patrick Mullins thinks this will be a difficult task for him. That hasn’t stopped the bookies from making him favourite.

Up the Beat 9/1

Friday

Boston Bob (left) carries Carlow's hopes today image:irishracing.com

1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle Grade 1

Willie Mullins has two runners entered here - Ut de Sivola and Darroun. Ex Aga Khan horses have a good recent record in this and Darroun comes from that sphere. He was second on his Irish debut at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve and then beat Hisaabat at Leopardstown at the end of January. That form makes him one of Ireland’s leading hopes. Ut de Sivola beat Hisaabat at Punchestown in January but that one made a bad mistake at the last. He then disappointed behind the Weld horse when he could only managed seventh in the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld’s Hisaabat ran up a sequence of good performances in defeat with three seconds on the bounce. He finally got the win he deserved in that Grade One at Leopardstown. He is one of Ireland’s leading contenders. Tom Taaffe’s Argocat is entered in this too. Denis Cullen has Dysios, who won on his second start at Navan less than two weeks ago.

Ut de Sivola 22/1

Darroun 12/1

Hisaabat 16/1

Dysios 66/1

Argocat 66/1

2.05 Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle Grade 3

Final Approach won this in a thrilling finish last year but despite winning just once since he has gone up in the weights. Citizenship is chasing a €100,000 bonus in this race. Jessica Harrington’s horse was an impressive winner of the Boylesports.com Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of January and the sponsors put up the bonus if the winner of that race could manage to win a race at the Festival. Citizenship has a very low weight but needs lots of horses to come out of this race if he is to get in. If he gets a run then he is definitely one to keep an eye out for. His stable mate The Bull Hayes is also entered in this race and could be one for rugby fans to follow! Thomas Mullins’ Alderwood is entered in this race too as well as earlier in the week. Sabrina Harty’s Kalann won at the track in October and has since run well, including two good second places. He is entered in the Champion Hurdle but if he runs here he could go well at a big price.

Final Approach 20/1

Kalann 25/1

The Bull Hayes 25/1

Citizenship 9/1

Alderwood 33/1

2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Grade 1

Boston Bob is the horse everyone wanted to talk about at preview nights. He has been exciting everyone in the yard since coming from Howard Johnson’s in the summer. He has won all three starts for the Mullins team. He won the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle from the highly rated Mount Benbulben before Christmas and then defied a Grade One penalty in the Grade Two Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown a month ago in terrible conditions. He is stepping up in trip here but is a highly talented horse and looks to have a great chance of winning this race. Felix Yonger made the same journey as his stable companion to Closutton. He too has raced three times for the yard. He was second on his first start before racking up two wins, including a Grade Two at Naas late last month.

Boston Bob 9/4

Felix Yonger 25/1

3.20 Gold Cup Grade 1

Willie Mullins has two entries in this Quel Esprit and The Midnight Club. This year’s race seems more open than previous years. Defending champion Long Run hasn’t set the world alight and there are doubts over Kauto Star since it emerged he fell while schooling. Quel Esprit had jumping issues last season and he fell while leading the RSA Chase last year. The team have worked on his jumping and he won the Irish Hennessy on his last start. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ran a big race and was placed.

Quel Esprit 12/1

The Midnight Club 100/1

4.00 Christies Foxhunters Chase

Boxer Georg is the mount of Patrick Mullins in the amateurs’ Gold Cup. He won his only start this season last month in Clonmel and will be a shorter priceif his connections have a good week. Merchant Royal could represent Dermot Weld. This horse has some good form going into the race, having won his last three starts. Merchant Royal will probably be ridden by Robbie McNamara.

Boxer Georg 14/1

Merchant Royal 14/1

4.40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Another handicap entry for Dermot Weld’s Prince Erik. He was given 11-4 which is a lot of weight for what he’s achieved. Citizenship is also entered and has 11-0 but the County Hurdle earlier in the day is his preferred race. If he doesn’t get into that he could still chase the bonus here. He’llberemembered has an entry here too and is on 10-11. Ted Walsh is another local trainer with an entry in this race. He could run That’Ll Do Me. What A Charm is entered in this but she ran earlier on Tuesday.

Citizenship 14/1

Prince Erik 25/1

What A Charm 16/1

That’Ll Do Me 25/1

He’llberemembered 33/1

5.15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Grade 3

Arthur Moore’s Free World in the Kauto Star colours is the only local runner in this race and his recent form is unimpressive. Though he is set to carry just 9-13 he is surprisingly short in the betting. If Clive Smith’s legend wins the Gold Cup earlier on the card there could be a sentimental plunge on this horse.

Free World 16/1

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 13 March 2012

Russell ready to add to his record *

ONE MOMENT from the Channel 4 coverage of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival will always stand out. After a dominant performance by Weapon’s Amnesty in the RSA Chase, winning jockey Davy Russell, is interviewed at the top of the hill before he returns victorious to the winners’ enclosure.

The first thought he has is to defend young jockey Brian O’Connell who had come in for unwarranted criticism from that channel’s John McCririck, the day before. In his moment of glory, he didn’t think of himself. It’s a measure of the man.

Cheltenham was always a huge part of Davy Russell’s life growing up. His earliest impressions of the course were formed from the television. “My dad used go there every year when I was a young fella and it always kind of grew around it. Dad was going to Cheltenham and we used to watch it on tv. It stemmed from there for me. My Dad used to go over just to enjoy the racing and he was probably a punter so for me that’s where it started as a child.”

As he grew up and became a jockey, his career was always going to draw him to Prestbury Park. It’s the satellite around which everyone in racing orbits. Just getting to ride there was fulfilling an ambition for this down to earth jockey. “From a riding point of view as an amateur I got a few rides over there but had no huge success. I finished second in the four mile chase and it was a wonderful place to let alone get a ride, not to mind ride a winner,” he says.

Winning at the Festival is the ultimate dream and Russell managed to achieve it in 2006. After turning professional in 2002 he had to wait four years for his first Cheltenham winner, Native Jack in the Cross Country Chase.  Despite saying that riding at the festival, getting that first festival winner brought relief along with the joy.

“My first winner was a wonderful day. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. I know it was only the banks race and it was a handicap but I don’t care what any one says what type of race you win at Cheltenham it’s a huge relief and it it will always be on your CV. Winners at Cheltenham are top of the list.

Since that initial triumph, Russell has enjoyed a steady stream of winners at Cheltenham. He has left each subsequent Festival with at least one winner. Last year First Lieutenant got the better of Rock on Ruby in a pulsating battle to the line. This week he runs in tomorrow’s (Wednesday) RSA Chase. He is one of Russell’s leading hopes for a winner at this year’s Festival, even though his chasing career has failed to live up to expectations so far.

“He was wonderful last year and Mouse (Morris, trainer) done a great job with him. He stays the trip well and his jumping is fine and he will improve for better ground but saying all that he will have to improve and he will have to step up. He will have to bring his A game and if he does there is no reason why he won’t give a big account of himself,” he says.

Davy may have a riding dilemma on his hands if Sir Des Champs runs in the RSA Chase. Willie Mullins’ charge is entered in that race and the shorter Jewson Novices’ Chase on Thursday. Does he stay loyal to First Lieutenant, as he has so often this season, or does he switch allegiance to Willie Mullins’ Sir Des Champs?

He’s not worried about it and hasn’t come to any decision yet. He is waiting on Willie Mullins to decided I’m waiting on Willie to make up his mind about what race he is going to run in and then I can make a decision. I’ve no decision made yet and I’m not really panicking as there are still a couple of days to go. The ground can change and things like that all have to be taken into consideration so it will all depend on what race Willie will go for.

Everyone connected with Sir Des Champs thinks very highly of this lightly of this lightly raced horse and he is spoken of as a future star. Russell, too, thinks that there could be a wealth of potential, waiting to be unlocked but he’s not getting carried away.

“Sir Des Champs looks to be a quality horse and he’s taken to chasing very well and he’s gathered a lot of experience in his three runs over here and he’s unbeaten so far. We are not quite sure how far he’ll go yet,” he adds.

Riding for Gigginstown House Stud he gets to ride some of the best horses in the country but the job is not without it downsides. Having to choose between two talented horses, both with chances of winning a festival Grade One, is one of the pitfalls and having to make that decision can be difficult. Although it creates dilemmas, for Russell it’s a good problem to have and he appreciates the position he is in.

“Every trainer thinks that his horse is better than the next and that’s understandable. From my point of view it can be good in one way and difficult in another. I’ve made some wrong decisions this year and First Lieutenant has been involved in them all really. It does make things difficult in one way but isn’t it great to be in the position to have to choose against two very, very good horses and I just feel that I’m very lucky to be riding some wonderful horses,” he smiles.

Another Gigginstown contender for Festival honours later in the week is Ipsos du Berlais. Noel Meade’s grey was third to Boston Bob at Navan and was an impressive winner on his last start at Punchestown, despite running lazily throughout the race. He pleased his jockey in work ahead of a tilt at Friday’s Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

”Ipsos du Berlais is in good old order. He worked during the week in Fairyhouse and he worked quite well. The extra distance will bring out more improvement in him. There’s no reason why he couldn’t give a good account of himself,” he adds.

One horse that he is really excited about is the Willie Mullins trained Make Your Mark. This horse looks special every time he sets foot on the racetrack and still has huge potential, despite being beaten by Boston Bob in horrendous conditions at Leopardstown last month. Make Your Mark has entries in three Grade One novice hurdles. Russell admits: “We don’t know how good he is. He was very impressive on every start bar the last one but that was on very testing conditions and it was quite a good race. We don’t know how far he is going to improve but he seems to be quite an exciting horse.”

“I’m very lucky with the quality of horses that I have going over there,” he adds.

With that quality of ammunition going to Cheltenham, there is every chance that we will see Davy Russell speaking his mind live on Channel 4 after winning at least one race, but hopefully two or three more. His realism will be welcome and just what is needed.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 13 March 2012

Harrington hopes to add to her Cheltenham story *

image:sportinglife.com

JESSICA Harrington will always hold a special place in Cheltenham history. The Moone trainer will forever be remembered for training the imperious Moscow Flyer, one of the greatest chasers of all time but her love of the festival began when she was just a teenager.

“The first time I went to the festival I think I went before I was 18. I used to watch it on the television before that. It was amazing. The whole atmosphere was incredible,” she says.

I’ve seen a lot of changes at Cheltenham since then. The winner’s enclosure was in front of the weighing room for instance. They have changed a lot over the years. Some of it I wouldn’t agree with but on the whole they have done a great job and haven’t taken the atmosphere away.

For her the importance of Cheltenham, especially in Irish sporting life, has historical beginnings. “It’s probably the pinnacle of every year in horse racing in England and Ireland and the fact that the Irish go over there you get great English Irish rivalry. It goes back to history. Traditionally the question was has Ireland got the best horses? We definitely breed the best but we went through a few lean times and we saw horses bred and produced here but trained over there winning.

The much maligned Celtic Tiger era did bring some benefits to the country, not least for racing. The fact that we could afford to keep our best horses here and not have to export them to England.

“The Celtic Tiger had a knock on effect on racing and we were able to keep our best horses and we saw that over the last few years. Look at last year when we had 13 winners. I don’t know if we will have that many winners again this year but we will be competitive in a lot of the races,” she adds.

The atmosphere at the start of the week, when everyone is buzzing with excitement and anticipation and the course is full of promise for everyone is a favourite time for Jessica. “When you go in there on Tuesday, everybody is there and everyone is in good humour and then the races start and the massive cheer goes up from the crowds.”

The legendary roar that emanates from the stands as the tapes go up for the first race at 1.30pm today is another aspect of the festival she loves. “Talking to the jockeys they tell you when you turn into the straight and jump the last hurdle a wall of noise hits them,” she explains.

Jessica is staying with Nicky Henderson in Lambourn this week, as she has done for many festivals and there is good natured rivalry between the pair. For the Punchestown festival, Nicky stays with Jessica and her family in Moone.

Although her name will forever be inextricably linked to the wonderful Moscow Flyer she has been lucky enough to train seven winners over the course of the last 12 festivals.

Her first winner will always be a treasured memory. “Space Trucker in 1999 was my first winner. That was amazing. When he won I couldn’t believe it. I’d had a few placed horses before but to get the number one spot in that enclosure was amazing.”

Moscow Flyer was fantastic. He won there three times and was very lucky for me. I’ve been very lucky to train seven winners.”

Spirit Leader Cork All Star and Bostons Angel are the other names on the Harrington Cheltenham role of honour.

It could so very nearly have been eight. Last year, her experience on day two of the festival encapsulate racing. Oscars Well was leading the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle jumping the last flight but made a bad mistake on landing and was lucky to stay on his feet. He ended up fourth. Just over half an hour later Bostons’ Angel won the RSA Chase.

She could get this year’s Festival off to a flying start for the Irish. Her smart novice hurdler Steps to Freedom is one of the leading hopes for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle today (Tuesday) and Mrs Harrington is happy with his preparations. “He has a good chance and I hope he runs well. I’m very happy with him so far and he is in good form,” she says.

Oscars Well makes a return trip to Prestbury Park hoping for better luck this time but his trainer is under no illusion about the size of the challenge that faces him in the Champion Hurdle this afternoon (Tuesday). “We have Oscars Well in the Champion Hurdle but I don’t think anything will beat Hurricane Fly. He is an exceptional horse. Oscars Well is in good form and he should run well.”

Citizenship won the Boyelsports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January in impressive style and he will more than likely chase a massive bonus in Friday’s County Hurdle, his trainer explains. “He is going for €100,000 bonus put up by Boylesports for winning the Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown which is very exciting and an added incentive.”

Jezki was an impressive winner of the bumper at Leopardstown last week and he completes Mrs Harington’s small but select team as she bids to write another glorious chapter in her Cheltenham story.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist  13 March 2012

Katie's week of a lifetime*

Katie Walsh and Poker De Sivola image:betfair.com

“My first memory of Cheltenham is when I went there in 1997. Dad had a horse running in the Triumph Hurdle. It was my first time ever in Cheltenham and my first proper memory of it. When Commanche Court won it was great. It’s difficult enough to get horses good enough to go over there and to go there with Dad and win was special.”

Katie Walsh’s first experience of Cheltenham was a winning one, thanks to a very special horse. She was only twelve years old when Commanche Court gave her father Ted his first winner as a trainer at the festival, when he won the Triumph Hurdle. It was the first top class victory f

Commanche Court is linked to Katie’s first Cheltenham festival ride as she wore his famous white and navy silks on Dermot Desmond’s Never Compromise. “The first time I rode in the festival it was for Dad. I rode Never Compromise in the cross country chase.”

The allure of Cheltenham has a strong pull for everyone involved in racing, she explains. “Everyone wants to have a ride in Cheltenham just to be a part of the whole thing, whether they have a chance of winning or not. To walk down the chute and come back in front of the crowd is just fantastic.”

The best horses and trainers take each other on in front of huge crowds and in a frenzied and intense atmosphere. It is racing’s Olympics and having a Cheltenham winner is the dream of everyone involved in racing.

“It’s top class racing with Grade Ones and big handicaps every day. Everyone wants to have a winner there. It’s the Olympics of jump racing because you have the Gold Cup, the best two mile chasers, the best hurdlers and the handicaps are top class,” she explains.

“You have the best horses of the year coming together to take each other on and then there is the rivalry between England and Ireland. It’s the ultimate competition. It’s like Usain Bolt taking on the other sprinters in the Olympics,” Katie continues.

Katie became the third member of her family to ride a Cheltenham festival winner in 2010. Riding the Ferdy Murphy trained Poker De Sivola, in the National Hunt Chase,  she made her own Cheltenham dream come true. The finish was fought out by two of Ireland’s finest amateur jockeys. It was a thrilling battle to the line and in a tight finish Katie prevailed over her good friend, and now sister in law, Nina Carberry.

Leaving Kildare for Cheltenham little did she know just what an incredible week awaited her. “I didn’t have a ride going there. We were going out on the Sunday night and when we were going to the airport Ferdy Murphy rang and asked me to ride Poker de Sivola in the four miler and I jumped at the chance. Then I picked up the ride on Thousand Stars in the County Hurdle for Willie.”

Her first Cheltenham success was achieved in the amateur ranks but two days later Katie was celebrating a second festival winner. Thousand Stars powered up the Cheltenham hill to victory in the ultra competitive County Hurdle. Katie and the dashing grey left the professionals, including AP McCoy and her brother Ruby trailing in their wake but for her it was just about having a festival winner.

“It was great to get the opportunity. I never really thought about beating the professionals or about Ruby. I just thought about the race,” she explains.

I didn’t have a ride and never did I think I’d have a winner. It was an amazing week and it’s a week that I will never forget,” Katie adds.

At the time of going to press Katie’s rides for this week’s festival were unconfirmed but one thing’s for certain, this member of racing royalty has the talent and skill to take on and beat the boys again. “I hope to have a ride in the Kim Muir and the four miler. Hopefully I will have a ride in the amateur races but I don’t know yet.”

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 13 March 2012