Willie Mullins Column featuring Monkfish and N'Golo

We’ve been getting the horses out and they’re running really well. I’m happy to get all the team out on this nicer ground. A few of them have been needing their runs but there’s no harm in that and we’ve been having plenty of winners as well.

Galopin Des Champs is one that probably needed it at Gowran. He is one that will improve for his run and he’s a nice horse for the future.

Recent winners

GAULOISE

She was very good at Thurles on Thursday in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle. I loved the way she settled and jumped. She jumped like a horse with a lot of experience and when Paul pulled her out to go after the second last she really quickened up and put the race to bed very quickly. Hopefully that’s the sign of a good filly, hopefully she’s graded class. She looks like a filly with a big future.

FERNY HOLLOW

Ferny Hollow was a relief, really, as he won at the first time of asking over hurdles in the I.N.H Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Gowran. He was under such pressure going to the last and he jumped it well. It could work out to be a very good maiden hurdle, certainly the first two look like black type horses, him and Bob Olinger, and it was a tough assignment for both of them on their first day out over hurdles.

APPRECIATE IT

He might’ve been prohibitive odds at 1/12 but I was happy with Appreciate It in the I.N.H Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Cork. They pulled a long way ahead of the third, 28 lengths, and Paul was very happy after the race. He thought he had a lot left in the tank, which is good, as I’d say he was undercooked going there. Considering that, I felt his performance was very good.

JANIDIL

Janidil was very slick over his fences in the Mongey Communications Beginners’ Chase at Naas. I loved the way he jumped when he met them wrong, he was able to put himself right and pop over them without losing much ground or impetus. He’s a horse that will improve over fences.

Fairyhouse Sunday

SAINT SAM

He’s won two in France so he looks a nice acquisition. We’ll get a good idea of where he lies with the Irish horses as he goes in at the deep end in the Grade Three Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle.

N’GOLO

Paul was very good on N’Golo at Navan the last day but he’ll probably have to improve to win the Grade One BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. The improvement could be there, I think Paul learnt plenty about him at Navan, so we’ll see. He has the pedigree to be a proper winter horse. It’s obviously a step up from a Grade Three and though we’re giving him the opportunity to do it over two mile, I’ve no doubt he can step up in trip as well.

VOIX DES TIEP

He put in a nice run at Punchestown two weeks ago and he has a chance as long as this race doesn’t come too soon for him.

BACARDYS

Honeysuckle is going to be hard to beat in the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle. If my horse managed to get some place money I’d be very pleased. We’ve not seen him since the Stayers’ Hurdle but this looks a good starting point for him. He was second to Honeysuckle in this race last year.

GETAWAY GORGEOUS, HYBERY, CIEL DE NEIGE

I’ve three in the Bar One Racing Extra Places Handicap Hurdle and I’d say Getaway Gorgeous would be my best chance.

She ran a very good trial for this race at Down Royal the last day, things didn’t go her way. If the experience she gained there helps then she’s in here with a good each-way chance.

Hybery has a chance if the ground stays dry. He ran two places behind Getaway Gorgeous at Down Royal but might not have as much improvement in him as she might.

I have Ciel De Niege as well and he’s still a maiden. He takes his chance in this but he has to carry quite a lot of weight for his first run of the season, so it could be a watching brief with him.