Mighty Majborough brings up double century for Mullins
Majborough's wide-margin success in the Grade One Barberstown Castle Novice Chase provided trainer Willie Mullins with his 200th winner of the season in Ireland and his promising young chaser did it in a style befitting the landmark.
Readily making amends for his near miss at Cheltenham, he led quite early in this race and dominated thereafter despite a tendency to jump out to his left. Only By Night, who finished a place in front of him in the Arkle, showed a good attitude to hold onto second place, but there were 14 lengths between the first two.
"He's always been inclined to do a little left shuffle when he's not sure of himself, but as long as he knows what he's doing, I don't really care,' declared Mullins.
'He's a huge horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. He's well over 17 hands. From the moment he stepped off the lorry at home, I thought he could be some article.
'Looking at Fact To File and then at him, I was thinking there were similar attributes — they're tall, long athletes with a huge stride and great jumps.
'Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. He's only five and a summer's grass will really make him mature strong.'
Thinking of next season, Mullins added: "I'd imagine you'd have to look at the Champion Chase, but he could go up in trip either. I think he's easy enough to ride."
Gordon Elliott broke his duck for the week when the reliable Teahupoo successfully retained his Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Crown. In a slowly run affair, there were plenty of opportunities to find trouble in running, and the Robcour gelding didn't manage to avoid it all.
However, when push came to shove from Sam Ewing, the right response was there, and he raced clear down over the last and strode on powerfully to the line to beat Asterion Forlonge, just as he did 12 months earlier.
'This horse has got me out of trouble a few times and he's done it again,' said a relieved Elliott. 'He's a star of a horse. I was panicking turning in, to be honest, but if we had had a couple of winners, I'd have had my chest out.
'He's so laidback at home you nearly start questioning yourself, wondering if he is a bit heavy going around the ring. Sam gave him a no-nonsense ride. I'm very lucky to have the riders I have, the staff I have and the owners.
'I was dreaming last night if Teahupoo could win today and Meath could win the Leinster final it would turn what has been a rough season to a great season.'
For the winning rider, it was a fifth Grade One of the season, and sixth in all.
'I'm delighted for the horse, the Robcour team and Gordon,' said Ewing. 'He was a bit unlucky to run into Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse on his first start of the season and unlucky to be beaten at Cheltenham, but it's absolutely brilliant to win today.
'Gordon told me to kick on off the bend — Jack (Kennedy) did something similar last year . It was hustle and bustle, but I pulled him out a bit wider than I was because I just wasn't happy with how it was going to unfold going down the back and thankfully, I got a nice position then.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins snaps up ‘promising' new jockey who rode incredible 150-1 winner
WILLIE MULLINS has snapped up a 'promising' new jockey - as an army of new recruits start arriving at his Closutton HQ. Anna McGuinness banged in her first winner for the all-conquering trainer with victory aboard the JP McManus-owned I Am River at Kilbeggan on Sunday. 2 Anna McGuinness has joined the Closutton riding ranks and banged in a winner for Willie Mullins - which could open the door to a load more rides in the future Credit: Getty 2 The biggest trainer in the sport is spending the summer replenishing his enormous squad ready for the new National Hunt season Credit: PA Sent off 15-8, the six-year-old made all after 517 days off to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Gavin Cromwell's 100-30 In The Trenches. McGuinness came in for praise from McManus' racing manager Frank Berry afterwards. And this success could pave the way to a whole load more rides in the future. She got the leg up on Mullins' A Penny A Hundred in the recent Mayo National at Ballinrobe, finishing third and picking up a cheque for £7,500. Victory on I Am River came on just her third ride for Mullins - who keeps a close eye on Anna when she rides work at his Cork yard. Beaming Berry said: "The horse jumped great and got a lovely ride from Anna. "She got him into a lovely rhythm, and you'd be delighted with him. "Anna is riding out in Willie's and finished third in the Mayo National and couldn't have done better." Most read in Horse Racing Incredibly, McGuinness' first ever win came on freak 150-1 outsider Feast in a Downpatrick bumper in July 2023. Labelled a very 'promising' conditional rider, McGuinness has three career wins but will surely bang in a load more given the chance. Her addition to Among them is £125,000 point-to-point purchase Bentraghhill. Mullins' trusted right-hand man Harold Kirk gave the winning bid for the 'gorgeous' four-year-old at the sales last week. He comes from Wilson Dennison, who previously owned Mullins stars Yorkhill, Shaneshill and Bellshill. Meanwhile, Audrey Turley, who owns Galopin Des Champs, has sent Looking For Eight to Mullins. And point-to-point winner Arcadian Emperor is another to have arrived recently. That lot will be joined by FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins plotting ‘big surprise' worth £60,000 for King Charles at Royal Ascot with historic runner Reaching High
WILLIE MULLINS says it was a 'big surprise' to be given a historic Royal horse to train - and he wants to repay King Charles with Ascot glory. Reaching High, who was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, is the first horse to be trained in Ireland by a reigning monarch. Advertisement 1 King Charles and Queen Camilla will be looking for winners at this year's Royal Ascot - and Willie Mullins might just supply them with one Credit: Simon Jones Jumps legend And he could break all sorts of new ground should Reaching High really give the King something to smile about on day one of racing's biggest Flat festival. Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Reaching High was denied a debut win under Mullins at Leopardstown earlier this month. The four-year-old gelding went down in a head-bobber having finished like a train. Advertisement Mullins has since told the The 2m5½f contest is worth just shy of £60,000 to the winner. Mullins knows what it takes to land it having been victorious with Brighton boss Tony Bloom's Stratum in 2021 and 2022. And Ireland have a stranglehold on the race, with Joseph O'Brien claiming it the past two years with Dawn Rising and Uxmal. Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing Mullins, who will look to keep his country's grip on the Class 2 handicap going, said: "It's an honour and a big surprise to be asked (to train a Royal horse). "It's nice to have a horse in that position and it's very exciting. "I'm probably looking at the two-and-a-half-mile race (Ascot Stakes) but we'll look at both staying races on the first day. "When you look at his pedigree, it's all stamina. He seems to stay very well." Advertisement King Charles actually rode at Cheltenham Festival, where Mullins dominates, but the Royal runners have tended to focus on the Flat. King Charles sends Willie Mullins 'impressive' horse with amazing pedigree in historic deal - as they target Royal Ascot Of them, Gold Cup hero Estimate was by far the best but the King and Queen did have big success in 2023 with Desert Hero. Alsy by Sea The Stars and bred by the late Queen, he was a thrilling 18-1 Royal Ascot winner, He then won the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood before finishing third in the St Leger - the final Classic of the season - at Doncaster. Advertisement There had been fears But Queen Camilla remains a huge supporter of the sport and the couple still have a lot of horses in training with the likes of Nicky Henderson over jumps and William Haggas, Ralph Beckett and John and Thady Gosden on the Flat. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins buys ‘perfect' £300,000 Cheltenham winner as legendary trainer gets serious in the summer transfer window
WILLIE MULLINS splashed £300,000 on a 'perfect' Cheltenham winner - as his epic squad rebuild picked up pace. The all-conquering Irish and British jumps champion trainer won the bidding for the hugely promising Poetisa. Formerly trained by Toby Bulgin, Poetisa won a mares' bumper at the home of jumps in April. Sent off 20-1 under former champion jockey Brian Hughes, she stayed on well up the hill after meeting trouble to win by a neck. Poetisa commanded a price tag of £42,000 as a three-year-old but her value soared after the Cheltenham victory. And Poetisa is from the same family as multiple Grade 1-winning superstar Macs Joy. The Jessica Harrington-trained hurdler won over half a million quid from 31 career races, which included nine victories. Famed for his battles with the legendary Brave Inca, Mac's Joy got the better of the former Champion Hurdler several times. Notably a 'tour de force' performance saw the Barry Geraghty-ridden gelding smash his big rival by four lengths in the 2006 Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Most read in Horse Racing The Racing Post analysis of Poetisa's debut said: "She made the perfect start she did well to do so too, having not always had the clearest run through. "There's plenty in her pedigree that points to a good future over obstacles." Mullins landed the 1-2-3 in the Grand National last season en route to breaking Dan Skelton's heart in the trainer battle. But the Closutton conveyor belt never stops and his aim will be to bring through the best young talent for the new season. Mullins has already While he and Rich Ricci have snapped up a While a FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
