Mullins Magnificent Seven *

Mikael D'Haguenet winning at Naas on Saturday image: irishracing.com

WITH the Cheltenham festival just seven weeks away, the Willie Mullins express train to Cheltenham gathered even more speed at the weekend with the Bagnelstown trainer recording an astonishing seven winners between the two meetings.

Even more incredibly five of the winners run in the colours of Susannah and Rich Ricci. All of their winners have Cheltenham entries as Mullins explained. “The main reason Rich has horses is to go across to Cheltenham.”

First up was Naas on Saturday. The highlight of his treble there was the victory of Mikael D’Haguenet in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle. The former festival winner was on a recovery mission this season, having bitterly disappointed as a novice chaser last year. However Mikael D’Haguenet was notching up a hat trick of his own on Saturday and he looked to have all of his old swagger back as he easily brushed aside his rivals and sauntered to victory.

Afterwards Mullins said that Mikael D’Haguenet’s festival target was undecided. “He's getting his confidence back, and the conditions of the race suited him well. He's in the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers Hurdle and there's not a lot for him between now and then.”

Marasonnien gave a taste of what was to unfold over the next twenty four hours or so by winning the opening maiden hurdle at the Kildare track. His festival target will be one of the novice hurdles over a longer trip.

Gigginstown House Stud’s Midnight Game completed the afternoon’s success with victory in a competitive novice hurdle. He will have the chance to get the festival off to a flying start in the opening race. “He didn't enjoy jumping out of that ground, and I'd be hoping for plenty of improvement on dryer ground. I would imagine with his gears that he'll go for the Supreme Novices Hurdle.”

Blazing Tempo leads home Tranquil Sea image: racingpost.com

The unstoppable force moved on to Fairyhouse on Sunday where Vesper Bell’s opening race victory set the tempo for the day. Like Marasonnien twenty four hours previously he too will be stepped up in trip at the Festival and the Riccis will hope to run him in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Blazing Tempo, dubbed the ‘Iron Mare’ by her trainer. The Galway Plate winner has been on the go since that Ballybrit victory and she showed tremendous determination and tenacity to turn over odds on favourite Noble Prince in the day’s feature event, the Grade 2 Norman’s Grove Chase registering her first success at this level.

“She is holding her form and that was nice to win, given the ground conditions. I was very pleased with that but not sure where we’ll go She doesn’t have to go any where at this stage as she’s done more than enough. She’s an iron mare and has been on the go since Galway and been doing it in all sorts of ground. She’ll get an entry for the Ryanair Chase but I’m not sure if she’s good enough,” said a thrilled Mullins.

Another mare showed battling qualities as earlier on the card Ceol Rua had to dig deep to see off the persistent Shadow Eile in the listed mares’ hurdle. Fiona McStay’s mare will be aimed at graded race at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.

Champagne Fever comes home clear image: irishracing.com

Bumpers are synonymous with Mullins, especially the Cheltenham version, and he looks to have unveiled his leading contender Champagne Fever. Rich Ricci’s fifth winner of the weekend, was due to go hurdling after Sunday’s race but the manner of his victory has forced Mullins to rethink his plans and the grey now heads the betting for that race.

The express rolls on to Leopardstown this weekend. Expect it to gather more speed as Hurricane Fly is set to be unleashed. 

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 24 January 2012