DESPITE the fact that Willie Mullins won’t have the likes of Annie Power, Min, Faugheen and Vautour on his team for this year’s Cheltenham Festival, he will still bring an enviable team and numerically he expects to have around 40 runners.
“It has been a difficult season, but you just have to accept that in the game that we’re in. I don’t dwell on things and always try and look ahead. We are down some big horses, but hopefully we’ll have a good festival,” he stated.
“The horses that are going to Cheltenham have done most of their work. They are fit and well and it is just a case of keeping them right at this stage. Some have a few bits of work to do, but by and large, they have their work done.”
When asked if he finds it easy to watch the likes of Douvan, he replied, “He is easy to watch, the one that is hard to watch is Un De Sceaux. He is bit like Hurricane Fly as every morning he goes out and he wants to race every day. Douvan is a lovely, relaxed individual.
“Holly rides him every day and they go around there at their own pace, whereas Un De Sceaux wants to race every time he gets on the gallop.
“He pulls, puts his head down and wants to get on with the job. You wonder with a horse like him, if he can do that every morning without pulling a muscle or overreaching? Those type of horses are harder to mind.
“When you go there with a strong favourite and they win, it’s more relief than joy. When you win with a 25/1 chance, that’s joy. There is a fair bit of expectation with a horse like Douvan.”
Regarding the trainers championship he said: “It won’t have any bearing on our plans for Cheltenham. We will bring over what we hope will be competitive and it is all about Cheltenham from now on.
“It has been a tough season and you just have to accept disappointment and move on. We have some nice young horses and we still have a very nice team of horses and like I always say, a good start is important. You have to make the most of what you have and move on.
“It’s going to be tough to get past Gordon. We’ll have horses for the home festivals, but you only have to look at the Irish National - we’ll have to win that and (for) Gordon not to finish in the first three just to get level, so it won’t be easy. That just puts the scale of the task in hand.”
He added: “We have a nice team going to Cheltenham and before Christmas, I didn’t think that we’d have the team that we have and I only hope that they can work the oracle again. Most of our runners are over the first two days and hopefully we’ll be able to break the ice then.”
He had an upbeat bulletin on Annie Power and said: “She is responding well and is riding out and we hope to have her back for the end of the season - we’ll aim to have her back for Punchestown. Faugheen is not riding out yet and I am sure that we’ll see him back whether it be this year or next.”
TIMICO GOLD CUP
DJAKADAM
8yo b g (812/21F23-213)
Saint Des Saints - Rainbow Crest
Mrs S. Ricci
He’s in great form and fingers crossed he is staying right. He hasn’t had any setback this year. Last year he got that nasty cut when he ran at Cheltenham and we just had enough time, but this is year we’ve had a clear run to the Gold Cup.
Missing the Irish Gold Cup was part of the plan all along and then when I saw the date - I think it was about a week nearer this year between - and I’m not sure that’s great for the Irish Gold Cup. I think he’s more mature now and he is of an age when staying chasers are at their prime. (He was second in the last two Gold Cups) and the first year, he was young and the second year he had a bad prep. This year everything is going right.
Willie was asked how does he think Djakadam has to improve to win a Gold Cup and he replied: “I don’t know, would he need to improve? Would either of the last two runs do - I don’t know? I was very taken with his run at Christmas. We did what we did on the day and we reflected afterwards that if we had used different tactics, we might’ve had a different result.
“But everything has gone right with him and the Lexus may have come a bit soon after he won the Durkan Chase. But we’re happy with where we are now and that’s the important thing. Obviously it’s more open this year - we were 12/1 a week ago and 5/1 now, but this year has been a funny year with injuries for a lot of people.
“It is one of my ambitions to win a Gold Cup - it would be nice to win it. At the moment, I am not looking at the opposition and I am just concentrating on getting my horse there. I know that my horse was good enough to finish second in it the last two years and we just need the ball bouncing in our favour a little bit more and it could happen.”
QUEEN MOTHER
CHAMPION CHASE
DOUVAN
7yo b g (21111/111111-1111)
Walk In The Park - Star Face
Mrs S. Ricci
He’s in good order. Everything has gone well. At this stage we’re just trying to get there in one piece and hope that things go right.
He’s a lovely, relaxed individual. You’ve just got to try and mind them as best you can and hope nothing stupid happens. You have just got to count down the days and he is right up there in terms of horses with high expectations - not only what you might think of him, but what I see him doing at home.
He’s not there yet, but the bar keeps rising and he keeps meeting it. He’s got to win a Champion Chase or maybe a couple of them. We could go in a different direction after that. He’s won everything we’ve asked him to win, but you’ve got to win your championship races.
The days will tick away and he’ll do what he has to do. I’ve younger horses that I think might be Champion Hurdle/ Gold Cup horses one day. At the back of my mind with him, I just take it day by day and try to get him to the festival and hope nothing goes wrong on the day or in the race. It’s that narrow for me with him at the moment.
I probably said what I thought about him - that he could be the best that I’ve ever had - but he’s a long way to go to get there. He’s certainly has to get past Hurricane Fly, who did what he did. The bar is high for him, but we’ll see.
I don’t look at the replays, but there’s been a few times he’s given me frights and everyone says God, he jumped fantastic. Ruby says: ‘I didn’t see what you saw on the ground when I’m on his back.”
He’s always in control and he’s got the scope to go in close or stand back. Maybe I am more worried watching him through a pair of binoculars - but he seems to have everything. He’s a huge horse and it’s rare for a horse of his size to stay so sound – usually when they’re that big, things go wrong as their frame is so big. He keeps it together.
THE STAN JAMES
CHAMPION HURDLE
LIMINI
6yo ch m (1113-21)
Peintre Celebre - Her Grace
Mrs S. Ricci
FOOTPAD
5yo b g (7213113F-11242)
Creachadoir - Willamina
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
I would say it’s 50-50 (that Limini be supplemented for the Champion Hurdle). I had a chat with Rich the other day and we both said we wouldn’t chat much more until next week. A lot depends on how Vroum Vroum Mag goes between now and then. She’s obviously in the Mares’ Hurdle. I think if she’s (Limini) is fine and sparking, we probably might take a punt.
I went to Punchestown thinking: “Am I mad going there?.” Last year we went there with Annie Power and you’d would probably have said before the race that it would be a schooling hurdle for her. This year as we got closer to the race, I thought: “Apple’s Jade is not going to make it easy for us,” and maybe a hard race three weeks before the festival is not good for Limini and I debated about taking her out.
But we said we were going to run, so we probably had to turn up and it mightn’t have been fair not to turn up. I just hoped it wouldn’t turn into a race of attrition.
We thought we’d ride the race that Ruby did ride and everything just fell into place. What I didn’t think was that Limini could pull out and go past her without getting a slap, which begs two questions - have we improved that much? I thought we’d improved at home, but I didn’t know we’d improved that much and did Apple’s Jade run up to form? If she did, I think we’re well entitled to go for the Champion Hurdle. Limini didn’t have a hard race and pulled out of it well.
I am very pleased how she came out of the race and I didn’t give her a day off and I thought we’d ride her out the following morning and just keeping her going seems to have worked the trick. She is a bit funny to pull out in the morning and takes more warming up. Her jumping has improved hugely from last year. She was asleep the last day and Ruby had the confidence to leave her asleep and it worked.
Footpad will also run in the Champion Hurdle and I’d imagine I’ll try and get Wicklow Brave there as well. He’s a course winner. I’m hoping for wet weather at Cheltenham and that might give Wicklow a better chance.
Footpad is a definite for the Champion Hurdle. Petit Mouchoir wasn’t going away from Footpad at Leopardstown, so we’re hoping that the track at Cheltenham should suit us better.
RYANAIR CHASE
UN DE SCEAUX
9yo b g (1F122-1611)
Denham Red - Hostesse De Sceaux
Edward O’Connell
The Ryanair is the plan with him - ground or no ground, that’s where we are with him. He has won over two and a half miles on heavy ground as a four-year-old. He could get three miles now.
He is still keen, but I think he’s settled a lot better now and I think fences have settled him down. I think his last run showed how well he can settle. He has won over two and a half miles and the horse is settling down as he gets older and I don’t think the trip will be a problem.
He could probably get three miles now and his last run reflects that. He is easier to ride in a race which opens up the option of going a longer trip with him.
THE SUN BETS
STAYERS’ HURDLE
SHANESHILL
8yo b g (311422-F233F1)
King’s Theatre - Darabaka
Andrea & Graham Wylie
NICHOLS CANYON
7yo b g (111333-312F)
Authorized - Zam Zoom
Andrea & Graham Wylie
CLONDAW WARRIOR
10yo br g (313-1123)
Overbury - Thespian
Act D Wagg Syndicate
Shaneshill goes for the Stayers’ Hurdle. Nichols Canyon, I’m not so sure about. He’s had an in-and-out year and I might leave him and wait for Punchestown. He’s in the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle. I’ve changed a few things with him and if he started to bounce between now and then, I might bring him, but at the moment I could leave him at home.
Clondaw Warrior will also go for the Stayers’ and I should have been campaigning him over three miles well before now. They’ve both got chances in it. It’s going to be tough for them, but they have each-way chances.
JLT NOVICES’ CHASE
YORKHILL
7yo ch g (U11/11111-411)
Presenting - Lightning Breeze
Andrea & Graham Wylie
All is good with him and I was tempted to aim him at the Champion Hurdle. I didn’t let him run over fences until Christmas time as I thought I had the other two for the Champion Hurdle (Annie Power and Faugheen) and I thought I’d let him go chasing.
I thought about it (Champion Hurdle) for about two seconds and then I said no. I had a quick word with Graham Wylie and he is of the same opinion and we are going to go where we are going to go with him this year.
He could easily come back over hurdles next year, but we’ll see how he gets on in Cheltenham. It’s pretty straightforward and he goes for the JLT.
RACING POST ARKLE
NOVICES’ CHASE
ROYAL CAVIAR
9yo b g (1/12/222/1222-1F)
Vinnie Roe - Blackwater Babe
Mrs S. Ricci
Royal Caviar goes for the Arkle. He’s in great order. We think he jumps very well and he’ll like nice ground. He was a bit left behind (at the start of the season) as we had other ones to go and we didn’t want them to run against each other, but as it turns out, he is the one that is left.
He was going well when he came down in the Arkle at Leopardstown.
NOVICE CHASERS
BELLSHILL
7yo b g (2/1202/1111302-111F)
King’s Theatre - Fairy Native
Andrea & Graham Wylie
HAYMOUNT
8yo ch g (1/222314-51243)
Presenting - Ali’s Dipper
Mrs C M Hurley
I’m not sure where Bellshill will go. He did run badly there (Leopardstown) last year and then we ran him in the wrong race at Cheltenham. He ran well considering, but he has just disappointed me. He was in better form this morning - he wants a trip. It might be that he wants better ground.
Haymount will go for the RSA or the four-miler - probably the four-miler. I thought he hated the ground the other day. He jumps well. He wants nice ground and he’s settled down a lot. He had no respect for his hurdles - he wanted to be racing down over them all the time. I’d be happy enough he’ll get the trip in the four-miler.
SKY BET
SUPREME NOVICES’
MELON
5yo ch g (1)
Medicean - Night Teeny
Mrs J Donnelly
BUNK OFF EARLY
5yo ro g (12)
Zebedee - Ctesiphon
Supreme Horse Racing Club
CRACK MOME
5yo ch g (1-12)
Spanish Moon - Peche Mome
Andrea & Graham Wylie
CILAOS EMERY
5yo b g (112)
Califet - Queissa
Luke McMahon
Melon is a horse with plenty of ability who jumps well. He lacks experience but he’s a fine, strong, tall horse who has the ability, but not the experience. The form in the two-mile division is not as good as other years - we’ll find out on the day, I suppose.
Melon’s pedigree is good and we’re looking at what Melon does at home, all the time, and I don’t know what way he’ll (Ruby) go, but I’d know where I’ll go.
I’d say it will be an easy enough decision for Ruby. He (Melon) lacks experience, but Fiveforthree ran and won the Neptune after one run so we’ve done it before, but not in the Supreme. He has plenty of jumping experience at home and he seems a natural.
I wouldn’t be concerned temperament wise with him. I suppose when I bought him, I thought if he’s good enough, he could be a Champion Hurdle horse. But if you look at the size and scope of him now - he’s really grown and matured. He could easily jump fences, so let’s see what he does here first.
I think both Crack Mome and Cilaos Emery have good enough form to be placed in it if not win it if things go right. I think a fair bit of both and they have only had two runs each and I think all of them will improve. I don’t think ground will be important to them, although Crack Mome wouldn’t like a big.
NEPTUNE INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT NOVICES’
HURDLE
SATURNAS
6yo b g (1210)
Davidoff - Sayuri
Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd
MONTALBANO
5yo ch g (2-15)
Monsieur Bond - Alpen Glen
Mrs S. Ricci
BACARDYS
6yo b g (F1/131-3F11)
Coastal Path - Oasice
Shanakiel Racing Syndicate
Saturnas didn’t ride out this morning. He’s pulled a muscle and hopefully he’ll be all right in a few days. Montalbano could go for the Neptune - I don’t know I’m going to do with him. I thought he’d have to go up in trip, but he’s very keen. Kemboy will probably go for the Neptune.
Bacardys probably did surprise me when he won the Deloitte. I was happy with the way he won (employing) the tactics we used. He’ll probably go for the Neptune, rather than the Albert Bartlett. He’s a horse we did think a lot of and the Deloitte put him back on track. Asthuria is there as well and I’m happy with her and she could go a longer trip.
ALBERT BARTLETT
NOVICES’ HURDLE
AUGUSTA KATE
6yo b m (1172-11F)
Yeats - Feathard Lady
The Masters Syndicate
C’EST JERSEY
5yo b g (1642-231)
Protektor - Myrtille Jersey
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
BON PAPA
6yo br g (1F1)
Network - Gibelotte
John P McManus
Augusta Kate looks like she’d want a longer trip, so she could go for the Albert Bartlett.
C’est Jersey goes there and Penhill could run. I think better ground and stepping up to three miles will help him. He is schooling well at home. We ran him over three miles at Christmas and after that run, we said that we’ll send him straight to Cheltenham. He is in good order.
Bon Papa I think is good enough to travel we’ll have to see what connections want to do with him. Either of the two long distance novices I’d imagine for him. He looks a real chasing type Battleford could go for the Albert Bartlett as well.
THE OLBG MARES’
NOVICES HURDLE
VROUM VROUM MAG
8yo b m (213122/11111/1111-1211)
Voix Fu Nord - Naiade Mag
Mrs S. Ricci
I think Vroum Vroum will go for the Mares’ Hurdle. On her last performance, that’s all I can see her doing. She was terrible at Doncaster, but she’s coming back right and we’re much happier with her now. I think she was just brewing something - a sort of a cold and when we got her home and we gave her antibiotics.
I gave her an easy time since. She’s done a few bits of work since and we’re happier with her, but I don’t think she could run in a Champion Hurdle after Doncaster. I don’t think we could ask her any of those questions now. The mares’ hurdle is the obvious route for her now.
TRULL HOUSE MARES’
NOVICES’ HURDLE
(GRADE 2)
LET’S DANCE
5yo b m (2/234-21111)
Poliglote - Baraka Du Berlais
Mrs S. Ricci
AIRLIE BEACH
7yo b m (1-111111)
Shantou - Screaming Witness
Supreme Horse Racing Club & K Sharp
The obvious race for Let’s Dance would be the mares’ novice. We seem to have a few a few nice mares for that – I would to say it will possibly be the mares’ novice for her. She’s a second-season novice, which is a big help to her. That would look the easiest one, but she could slot in any of the novice races and mares’ form seems to be good this year. I think the mares’ form is stacking up better than the geldings form, the step-up in trip has helped.
Airlie Beach probably has to take her on. I don’t think we’d run her in the Supreme.
FRED WINTER JUVENILE
MERI DEVIE
4yo ch f (14)
Spirit One - Folle Biche
Andrea & Graham Wylie
BAPAUME
4yo b g (61-212)
Turtle Bowl - Brouhaha
Mrs S. Ricci
I think we have two nice ones in Bapaume and Meri Devie and I think they will go.
I was disappointed with Meri Devie last time, she’s a lot better than that. I probably gave her too much time off after her last run and maybe she needs to be trained a bit more like a gelding. I haven’t given her too much time off since (Leopardstown) and she’s been in good order since. She’s growing and putting on weight since that disappointing run, so I can afford to be a good bit harder on her over the next few weeks. Ruby had huge time for her before the last day and I made him ride He wanted to ride her. He thinks she’s a fair mare and she’s not out of it by any means.
Bapaume has won a Grade 2 and I thought it was a simple enough decision for Ruby to ride him the last day. I hope he can improve on his last run and I think he’ll need to improve, but they both should be competitive.
THE WEATHERBYS
CHAMPION BUMPER
CARTER MCKAY
6yo gr g (21-11)
Martaline - Saxona
Pearl Bloodstock Ltd
BALLYWARD
5yo b g (2-1)
Flemensfirth - Ifyoucouldseemenow
Andrea & Graham Wylie
NEXT DESTINATION
5yo b g (1-1)
Dubai Destination - Liss Alainn
Malcolm C Denmark
RED HOT FILLY PEPPERS
5yo ch m (11)
Robin Des Champs - Mhuire Na Gale
Coldunell Limited
MYSTIC THEATRE
6yo b m (411-1)
King’s Theatre - Mystic Cherry
Peter & Maria Byrne
Carter McKay goes there. Ballyward will probably be entered, but he pulled a muscle there the other day so we’ll see how that goes. Next Destination goes there and he works well. Ballyward works fine if he overcomes this muscle problem.
The two fillies, Redhotfillypeppers and Mystic Theatre are also entered. We’ll enter them all and we’ll see.
Carter would look the one wouldn’t he on his run the last day? There is no problem with the ground with him and he’d been doing nice work at home and (his performance at Naas) it was better than I’d hoped.
You don’t go expecting a performance like that and I wonder did Joseph’s horses perform on the day? I suppose he does (compare favourably with his past bumper winners). That performance the other day would compare favourably with anything. He’s a fair machine.
HANDICAPPERS
We have plenty of entries and we’ll see how the weights look later this week. Our horses usually get somewhere between 6-8lb over their Irish weight.
I am not sure if Isleofopendreams will get into the Pertemps. We’ve been lucky to win handicap hurdles, but I don’t think we’ve ever been sighted in a handicap chase at Cheltenham. I tend not to think about them until after we get the graded horses sorted out and see what races they’ll run in. I used never run in handicap hurdles up until around four year ago, but then I found that I had to and we’ve been lucky enough in them.
Ivan Grozny could go for a handicap, but he’s probably handicapped out of it after winning at Aintree last year. Blazer could go - he is in a handicap or two over there.
Arctic Fire is in good order and he’s working well. I just stuck him in the County Hurdle to see, but I’d say it’s less than 50-50 whether he runs or not. We’ll see what work he does in the next few days.