Willie Mullins gives us the lowdown on his weekend runners at Navan and Thurles before reflecting on a highly successful week in Ireland.
SUNDAY RUNNERS
CAVALLINO – 12.10 Thurles
CAVALLINO goes in the BetVictor Irish EBF Beginners Chase and he’s bidding to get back on track after missing one down the back at Gowran and falling last month. At home he jumps quite well and he should appreciate this ground and trip. He goes there with a letter in front of his name rather than a number but I hope he has a clear round and finishes in the money.
STRATUM – 12.10 Thurles
STRATUM runs in the same race and he’s coming back to Thurles having run well in third on his chasing debut at the track last time. Being a professional racehorse he ran very well and with normal improvement he’d be hard to beat on this occasion.
BRAGANZA – 1.40 Thurles
BRAGANZA was very impressive here at Thurles the last day and she steps up in class in the Listed BetVictor Irish EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle. She impressed in winning but her jumping didn’t impress too many. She needs to improve and she needs practice to do that, but she’s done a good bit of schooling since and I hope it brings the right result. She gets an allowance from the two highly-rated horses and that will be needed.
EABHA GRACE – 3.40 Thurles
EABHA GRACE runs in division two of the bumper and she’s very well bred this mare. Her dam was a Listed-winning half-sister to Bob Olinger and she’s by Walk In The Park. On breeding you’d think she’ll like the good to yielding ground and she’s one we’re looking forward to.
Great to have Townend back
We had a good week with Paul Townend back and he was back with a bang riding five winners on the trot for us at Fairyhouse and Naas.
He started with two winners in beginners’ chases for us in Blue Lord and Stattler who put in two very good performances, then went on to win on Hi Ho Phoenix who he said likes jumping and jumping hurdles does seem to have improved his form no end.
Paul had those three winners at Fairyhouse last Saturday and then he went on to Naas to win on Hawai Game and Brandy Love on Thursday, getting the spare ride on the former after Mark Walsh was injured.
Hawai Game jumps quite big, more like a chaser, but he got more professional as he went. Brandy Love was very professional, jumping out and making the running, and giving Paul a terrific spin.
She could find her way to the top in the mares’ novice division this season, being by new young sire Jet Away.
Then Paul came back relatively disappointed after Gaillard Du Mesnil who looked like he might have needed the run.
However, his stablemate Capodanno, ridden by Jody McGarvey, put in what looked like a very taking performance, coming from an almost impossible position following a bad mistake at the second-last to win going away.
He looks like fences have brought out huge improvement in him and he’s one to look forward to in the top novice chases for the rest of the season.
We’re right in the middle of the build-up for Christmas, we just have to keep everything going.
I was disappointed to hear Nicky Henderson’s Buzz got injured on Friday morning and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t have similar types of injuries. But in this game, unfortunately it comes with the territory.
