WILLIE Mullins etched another note in the history books when sending out his 4,000th winner at Fairyhouse last Saturday.

The perennial champion trainer was on duty at Cheltenham when Bronn brought up the milestone victory in the opening beginners’ chase on the card.

Given a scare

He went to post a 2/9 shot in the two-mile-five contest but was given a scare by rival Grandero Bello in the closing stages.

That rival threw down a challenge from the second last and pushed the hotpot all the way to the line as he secured a neck victory. Winning rider Daryl Jacob, in the colours of Simon Munir and Issac Souede, said afterwards: “It’s great to be a very small part of history. No words can really describe how good a man Willie is and what he has achieved. To be a small part of that history is fantastic.”

On the winner he added: “He doesn’t do a whole lot in front and was looking around an awful lot.

“I thought I had him [Grandero Bello] beaten comfortably going to the last but he started pulling up a bit from the back of the last with me. He’s toughed it out well. There is more room for improvement with his jumping, he’s getting better.”

Mullins was later quoted as saying: “I’m delighted. I’m really happy for all the owners we have met throughout the years who have made this possible.

“They are the building blocks we start on, so I’m very lucky with the group of owners I’ve had over the years, with my family, wife Jackie and (son) Patrick, our staff in the yard who have been with us for years. It is really a family affair.”

The feature event on the card was the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle and Mullins struck again with another short-priced favourite in Ashroe Diamond.

Again though it wasn’t plain sailing for the even-money shot who had to work to secure a length-and-a-quarter success in the two miles and two furlongs contest.

Danny Mullins found himself in a pocket going to the second last where his mount was slightly untidy and had to switch left to challenge.

The Walk In The Park mare picked up well to dispute at the last and went on in the closing stages to seal matters for her owners, Blue Blood Racing Club.

Tactical

Her jockey admitted afterwards that he knew it was likely to turn into a tactical affair: “I knew it was going to be that type of race, it had all the hallmarks of that on paper. Even walking in, there was a bit of poker face going on. Davy was trying to make it look like he was dropping in but I knew he wouldn’t let it be too slowly run.

“He went a gallop, stacked the traffic, and in fairness my one was good when she put down the head.”

Brace for Elliott

as Fifty impresses

THE Gordon Elliott-trained Found A Fifty made an impressive start over hurdles when powering to a wide-margin success in the Rich History & Well Chosen Maiden Hurdle.

The Solskjaer gelding made all under Davy Russell and the 4/1 shot went clear before the last for a nine-and-a-half length win over 4/6 shot Parmenion. Russell, in the colours of Bective Stud, said: “He’s got a lot of pace, we really liked him and he jumped really well.

“Gordon has given him the time to fill into himself as he has a big frame. He likes to run and he was hard on himself there. He jumped great.”

Run For Pat bounced back to his best when claiming the concluding Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Stayed on

Corey McGivern produced his mount to lead before the second last and the 7/1 shot stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-three-quarter length win over Waittillitellyou.

Stable representative Lisa O’Neill said: “Corey gave him a lovely ride. He hasn’t run in a while and he was freshened up a little bit. I thought when he got in tight to the last he might throw it away.

“He goes away through that ground and Corey got on really well with him. He travelled really sweetly which he tends not to do at times. It’s great for the owners, the Sloan family, and hopefully there are a few more left in him.”

In-form Cromwell on the mark again with Kicker

GAVIN Cromwell has enjoyed a flying start to 2023 and Tyre Kicker struck again for the Navan handler when running out a cosy winner of the three miles and a furlong handicap chase.

Keith Donoghue gave the 15/8 favourite a confident ride, taking it up at the last to record a length-and-three-quarter win over front-runner Made In The Woods for owner Christy Reynolds.

Cromwell said: “That was great, I wasn’t sure if he would stay this far. Keith gave him a smashing ride, he rode him to get the trip and he jumped really well.

“We can certainly come back in trip with him. We’ll see what the handicapper does and go for something similar again.”

Shaketry was another in-form horse to gain a follow-up victory on the card when taking the preceding two-mile-one handicap chase.

Phillip Enright came to dispute turning for home on the 8/1 shot and the Edward O’Grady-trained gelding was sent about his business before the last. He held on close home to beat Union Park by three-parts of a length.

Like a baby

Enright said: “He’s in great form and a lot of it goes down to ‘Shakey’ (Martin Troy) who owns him with Michael Lowry. He minds him like a baby, he loves him and he’s his pride and joy.

“He said to me today, weighing out, that he was as good as he was in Naas. He travels lovely and jumps brilliantly, he did it well again.

“He kept galloping, the weight slowed him down a bit from back of the last to the line. He was looking for the line but thankfully we got there.”

Paul Gilligan was delighted to see Buddy One herald a return to form for his horses.

The Sans Frontieres gelding made most of the running in the two-and-a-half mile ‘unplaced’ maiden hurdle and the 7/1 shot kicked clear before the last for a three-and-a-quarter length win over Harvard Guy.

“It was a super performance and the ride Jack gave him was brilliant, he just left the horse alone and let him jump,” said Gilligan.

“He was meant to run over Christmas in a similar race to this at Limerick but all our horses went down (with illness) that week so it’s fantastic to come back and do this.

“He’s owned by Tom Quinn, John Joe McGrath and Eddie Lynch. I met them in Ballinrobe one day and they said they’d buy a horse. We bought this horse from Martin Cullinane and he’s a right horse for them to have a bit of fun with.”