Willie Mullins reflects on his recent winners including Tullyhill, before going through his weekend runners including the returning Ferny Hollow.
Recent reflections
Tullyhill has been disappointing all season but he put it together at Punchestown and showed that his bumper form wasn’t a fluke. I think if he can keep his jumping together he is well up to any Grade 1 over the minimum trip in Ireland or England. He has the engine. We just need to keep his jumping right, he just needs a little bit of confidence and he seems to have got that now. It’s all systems go for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Saint Sam was very good to do what he did in Gowran in really heavy ground, we were very impressed with him. That leaves him set up to go for a few nice races, probably on the home front rather than Cheltenham. Those small field conditions races probably bring out the best in him.
Mister Policeman is coming right. I know it was two miles but I believe he wants a longer trip, this race just looked a good opportunity for him and he took it very well.
Largy Hill impressed me at Thurles on Thursday doing what he did in that type of contest. It shows that he has as much speed as stamina as they had to change gear coming down the straight. He was probably the pick of the parade ring, which is a fair achievement considering the type of horse that was in there, and on the track he was very good. He’s more than just good looks and I’ll probably keep him at home rather than go to Cheltenham. If he keeps to this level of form next year perhaps he’ll then be entitled to go across the water.
Sunday
TOUNSIVATOR – 1.55 Naas
He’s a nice horse we got off the Flat in France. It might be questionable whether he’ll handle this heavy ground that we’re getting at the moment. But he’s fit and well and he jumps well, so he has to take his chance.
FERNY HOLLOW – 2.55 Naas
Ferny Hollow is in good shape after his absence. The conditions of the race really suit him and he appears to be well at home. He’ll go on the ground and we’re looking forward to a good run, but we’re mostly looking forward to him finishing and pulling out sound the following day with a view to going to one of the festivals.
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