ANY opportunity to get up close to the Closutton stars is grabbed by both hands and another batch of press recorders from the Irish racing scribes were thrust toward Willie Mullins even as the rains came down in the Closutton yard on Wednesday morning.

A total of 50 horses assembled for work and back from a successful trip with True Self to Melbourne, he admitted: “The Melbourne Cup is a race I’d like to win, having come so close.” But any intention to extend his flat interests are not on the agneda. “We’re good at what we do and we’ll keep it at that. Though when I hear of trainers in Barbados when I’ll be in Thurles..!”