On the eve of the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins’ stable made a huge statement with a dominant display at Naas ahead of the upcoming event
Willie Mullins will go into the Cheltenham Festival with a huge smile on his face after he enjoyed a 419/1 four-timer at Naas on Sunday, which included a 20/1 outsider.
Redemption Day, the favourite who was priced at 8/15, commenced the winning streak in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Multiples All Shops’ Maiden Hurdle. Ridden by the skilled Paul Townend, the eight-year-old outpaced Come Walk With Me by one and three-quarter lengths.
It was a hugely impressive moment for the Closutton team, who only failed to win one of the five races taking place. Post-race, Townend heaped all the praise on Redemption Day, who certainly redeemed itself after a frustrating last couple of seasons.
Townend said: “That was nice. He settled nicely, which was good for him. He has the engine, but things probably haven’t gone right for him for a couple of seasons. Hopefully he can have a nice spring on the back of that.”
Continuing the success, Gaucher nabbed a surprise win in the Bar One Racing “100% Acca Boosts On Self-Service Bet Terminals” Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, clinching victory at long odds of 20/1 with Brian Hayes in the saddle. The six-year-old dashed ahead, leaving 13-8 favourite Goraibhmaithagat trailing by eight-and-a-half lengths, while British competitor Pleasington came in a distant seventh out of eight.
After the race, an ecstatic Hayes said: “It was a very good performance giving weight to everything. I thought the track might suit him, around the inside.
“He’s a small, tidy, well-balanced horse. It proved right and it’s nice to get it. He has plenty of pace and he rolls nicely into and out of bends. Hopefully he might win a few more.”
The renowned Irish and British champion trainer scored a four-timer, with Jump Allen taking the win as the 9-2 favourite in the Bar One Racing ‘Extra Place Races At The Cheltenham Festival’ Handicap Hurdle, ridden by Sean O’Keeffe. Olympic Man also came out on top at 11-8 in the Bar One Racing ‘Guaranteed Overnight Prices’ Beginners Chase with Danny Mullins in the saddle.
After the event, Mullins said: “He’s not becoming a good jumper but he’s getting good at being a bad jumper! Even the mistakes he’s making throughout he’s not losing ground.
“The only one really was when we were off the bridle going to the last, he lost a length there. Once I galloped away from it I always felt that I was picking Darragh (O’Keeffe, riding Foxy Girl) up, and he was good and tough up the hill.”
Mullins has a tremendous history at the Cheltenham Festival, recording 103 victories. The first race for him will be the Supreme Novices Hurdle, which was re-named to the Michael O’Sullivan’s Supreme Novices Hurdle as a tribute to the late rider who died after a fall at Thurles in February.
The Irishman has not had a winner in the opening event since Appreciate It in 2021. He has also seen three favourites be defeated in the race since. Mullins will be banking on Kopek Des Bordes, who was victorious at the Dublin Racing Festival, to break the trend.
