Willie Mullins includes record-breaking 100-1 winner among eight entries for all-weather Newcastle race
WIN UP NORTH Willie Mullins includes record-breaking 100-1 winner among eight entries for all-weather Newcastle race
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
WILLIE MULLINS has included a record-breaking 100-1 winner among his eight entries for a mega-money all-weather race at Newcastle.
The Northumberland Plate is one of the few contests the legendary Irish trainer is yet to claim.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Willie Mullins has entered freak 100-1 Cheltenham winner Poniros in the Northumberland Plate - one of eight he could run
Credit: PA
But Closutton boss Mullins looks hellbent on putting that right after entering eight for next month's £150,000 feature.
Headlining his potentially huge squad for the 2m contest on June 28 is freak Cheltenham Festival winner Poniros.
Brighton owner Tony Bloom's 100-1 outsider nutted Nicky Henderson's Lulamba in a thrilling Triumph Hurdle, becoming the biggest-priced winner of the race in the process.
He then finished a four-length second to Lulamba in their Punchestown rematch - but now looks like he could be set for a summer campaign on the Flat.
Poniros is 8-1 joint-fav with James Owen's Chester Cup winner East Inda Dock, who finished third in that strong Triumph.
Mullins' next best looks to be 14-1 Ethical Diamond, who could well exploit a rating of 96 on the Flat.
Now a 143-rated hurdler, he was fourth behind Mullins' Kargese in the County Hurdle having been sent off 16-1 under Patrick Mullins.
The extended 2m trip looks right in range for Ethical Diamond, who is owned by the same people who have former Ebor winner Absurde.
Reaching High, the historic Royal runner owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, has been given an entry too.
Bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II and out of her beloved Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate, Reaching High will make his debut under Mullins at Leopardstown on Friday.
Staying trips look his game and, while a Royal Ascot run would be an obvious dream, Mullins could delay his big run until Newcastle, where he is 20-1.
Especially as Reaching High was a dominant seven-length winner of a 1m6f race on the Wolverhampton all-weather last summer for previous trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Mullins also has Too Bossy For Us and £100,000 purchase and recent winner Sober at the 20-1 mark.
While Hipop De Loire, who hasn't run since finishing fifth in last August's Ebor, is shorter at 16-1.
Among Mullins' more unlikely winners are 33-1 chances Charlus and Pappano, who contested some good races on the Flat when trained by John and Thady Gosden.
Mullins was crowned champion British jumps trainer for a second time at Sandown last month.
He had the 1-2-3 in the Grand National, won by 33-1 Nick Rockett, and the 1-2 in the Scottish National.
But he loves targeting the big Flat races over the summer too.
Sober and Absurde have entries in the Ascot Gold Cup and Reaching High could run in the Ascot Stakes.
Speaking of how he came to train an historic first Royal horse in Ireland, Mullins said he was introduced to King Charles at last year's Royal Ascot.
And speaking of Reaching High, Mullins said: "He could be a contender for the Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
"His pedigree is all stamina so those kind of races should suit him."
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. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
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 – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Bukayo Saka says toughest injury setback gave him more balanced outlook on life
The Arsenal winger has admitted he initially feared he might never be the same player again after he suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace last December which kept him out of action until April. However, the enforced time away from football's 'conveyor belt' has helped him see the bigger picture, as he prepares to round off the season by playing his first England match since Thomas Tuchel took charge against Senegal on Tuesday night. 'I got to spend more time with my family and got to do more of the little things around the house that I wouldn't have even paid attention to when I was playing,' Saka said. 'On that note it was nice and I've come back with a bit more of a balanced head about football and life, and I'm trying to balance them better. It definitely helped me mentally.' Saka also had a new arrival to keep him occupied. 'I got the dog while I was still playing but I got injured and he came while I was injured,' he said. 'It was a bit tough at first because he's a puppy and I couldn't really get after him. It was a good experience. It was funny. His name is Tucker.' Saka said he also spent time reading, including one especially influential book called 'The Power of Now', written by Eckhart Tolle and given to Saka by Arsenal assistant coach Carlos Cuesta. '(The book is) about not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future. Just being in the moment and always asking yourself 'what's necessary right now?',' he said. 'Sometimes I can think, 'oh, am I going to come back in the best shape?'. Or, in the past, 'what could I have done to prevent injury?'. 'But all that is not necessary. It's only going to bring bad energy and negativity to your body.' The timing of Saka's injury meant he had to undergo surgery at 5am on Christmas Eve in order to be able to return home in time for Christmas Day. 'It was horrible. It was the day before (Christmas Eve) we had to decide. Normally you get more time to make a decision,' he recalled. England's Bukayo Saka during a press conference (Mike Egerton/PA) 'But where it was going to be Christmas, the surgeons want to be with their families, so I decided on the spot that we were doing the surgery. Then it was deciding what time and was I going to be there on Christmas Day. Obviously, that was the last thing I wanted. 'So I had to do it at 5am or 6am on Christmas Eve. Credit to the surgeon – he got up early to do it. I was out of the hospital at about 3 or 4pm and home. Christmas Day, I went to my cousin's house but I was in a big brace and had crutches.' Asked what his Christmas Day was like, Saka said: 'I had to get my presents brought to me. It doesn't sound like the worst thing! 'When everyone got up to go to the dining room, it took me about 10 minutes to get there. Little things like that. It was very painful to get up and make my way there.'
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Nathan Collins hopes Thomas Frank remains at Brentford after international break
The PA news agency understands Spurs are closing in on the Dane to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, after former manager Mauricio Pochettino ruled himself out of the running. Bees defender Collins admitted it had been difficult to avoid the rumours as he and his international team-mates prepared for Tuesday night's friendly in Luxembourg. We are delighted to confirm the signing of Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool on a five-year contract, with club option of an additional year ✍️ — Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) June 3, 2025 The 24-year-old said: 'Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it, unfortunately. 'But I have my own problems with the game tomorrow, staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest.' Since the squad first assembled in Dublin ahead of Friday night's friendly draw with Senegal, Collins has been joined at the Gtech Community Stadium by Ireland colleague Caoimhin Kelleher after the keeper completed an £18million move from Liverpool. The pair have joked about the possibility of the man who signed him leaving within days, but even if that does happen, the defender is confident the club will have a plan. He said: 'Yes, we have been joking about it. But he is all right. Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the back room plan, so there will be a plan. 'If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens.' Whatever happens, 26-year-old Kelleher will be lining up in a Brentford shirt next season and his new club-mate cannot wait to play in front of him. Collins said: 'I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here. 'He shows his qualities as a keeper as well, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well. The Republic of Ireland went down 5-0 to England a Wembley in November (Bradley Collyer/PA) 'I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club.' In the meantime, the pair will hope to help extend Ireland's unbeaten run to four games since they were beaten 5-0 by England in the Nations League at Wembley in November when they run out at the Stade de Luxembourg. That was a painful evening for Collins and his team-mates, but one he believes served a purpose. He said: 'The hurt in the dressing room after, it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger. It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp. 'It might work in a good way for us.'
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Bukayo Saka says toughest injury setback gave him more balanced outlook on life
However, the enforced time away from football's 'conveyor belt' has helped him see the bigger picture, as he prepares to round off the season by playing his first England match since Thomas Tuchel took charge against Senegal on Tuesday night. 'I got to spend more time with my family and got to do more of the little things around the house that I wouldn't have even paid attention to when I was playing,' Saka said. 'On that note it was nice and I've come back with a bit more of a balanced head about football and life, and I'm trying to balance them better. It definitely helped me mentally.' Saka also had a new arrival to keep him occupied. 'I got the dog while I was still playing but I got injured and he came while I was injured,' he said. 'It was a bit tough at first because he's a puppy and I couldn't really get after him. It was a good experience. It was funny. His name is Tucker.' Saka said he also spent time reading, including one especially influential book called 'The Power of Now', written by Eckhart Tolle and given to Saka by Arsenal assistant coach Carlos Cuesta. '(The book is) about not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future. Just being in the moment and always asking yourself 'what's necessary right now?',' he said. 'Sometimes I can think, 'oh, am I going to come back in the best shape?'. Or, in the past, 'what could I have done to prevent injury?'. 'But all that is not necessary. It's only going to bring bad energy and negativity to your body.' The timing of Saka's injury meant he had to undergo surgery at 5am on Christmas Eve in order to be able to return home in time for Christmas Day. 'It was horrible. It was the day before (Christmas Eve) we had to decide. Normally you get more time to make a decision,' he recalled. England's Bukayo Saka during a press conference (Mike Egerton/PA) 'But where it was going to be Christmas, the surgeons want to be with their families, so I decided on the spot that we were doing the surgery. Then it was deciding what time and was I going to be there on Christmas Day. Obviously, that was the last thing I wanted. 'So I had to do it at 5am or 6am on Christmas Eve. Credit to the surgeon – he got up early to do it. I was out of the hospital at about 3 or 4pm and home. Christmas Day, I went to my cousin's house but I was in a big brace and had crutches.' Asked what his Christmas Day was like, Saka said: 'I had to get my presents brought to me. It doesn't sound like the worst thing! 'When everyone got up to go to the dining room, it took me about 10 minutes to get there. Little things like that. It was very painful to get up and make my way there.'
