Latest news with #Mullins'
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Willie Mullins snaps up ‘promising' new jockey who rode incredible 150-1 winner
She could have a big future in the saddle TOP TALENT Willie Mullins snaps up 'promising' new jockey who rode incredible 150-1 winner Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 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." 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 Mullins' jockey ranks comes as he continues to add fresh talent to his massive squad of horses. 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 Mullins' £300,000 purchase and Cheltenham bumper winner Poetisa. 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: 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
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins includes record-breaking 100-1 winner among eight entries for all-weather Newcastle race
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. 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 Headlining his potentially huge squad for the 2m contest on June 28 is 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. Most read in Horse Racing Reaching High, the 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 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. . 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 Sun
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Willie Mullins to finally unleash ‘stunning' £180,000 future superstar with Grand National-winning jockey in the saddle
WILLIE MULLINS is to finally take the wraps off a 'stunning' £180,000 future superstar - who's already fancied for next year's Cheltenham Festival. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary moved quickly to snap up the hugely promising Leader Des Bordes last June. 1 His half-brother Kopek Des Bordes is one of Mullins' top horses and won this year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Kopek Des Bordes is unbeaten in four and will return at slim odds of 4-9 on the same day his sibling makes his debut. Both horses are out of the dam Miss Berry, with Leader Des Bordes being by Tunis, who counts Group 3 winner Knoxville among his progeny. Grand National-winning jockey and Willie's son Patrick will take the ride on Leader Des Bordes. They will run in the prestigious Goffs Defender Bumper (5.25pm) on day one of the star-studded Punchestown Festival. It will be no surprise to see all Mullins' bumper horses near the head of the market for next year's Supreme. Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever is the current 14-1 favourite and she will put her unbeaten record on the line on Wednesday. But it's testament to the high regard in which Leader Des Bordes is held that he can be backed now at odds of 25-1 for the same race. His pedigree suggests his future could lie over further, though. Among Miss Berry's progeny is the Group 1-winning former Nicky Henderson mare Utopie Des Bordes. She won the G1 2m6f Prix Maurice Gillois Grand Steeple-Chase by six lengths in 2012 when trained by Francis-Marie Cottin before moving to Seven Barrows. There's also a Grade 2 and Listed winners in the impressive family. Harold Kirk, who buys Mullins' horses, confirmed almost a year ago when they bought Leader Des Bordes the Goffs Defender Bumper would be the plan. Eleven months on it looks like it could come to fruition, with Kirk saying at the time: "I always knew he was going to be very popular. "He's a stunning horse with a huge pedigree. He's for an existing owner in the yard. "We'll be hoping this one can win the Goffs Defender Bumper next year. That'll be the first plan anyway." . Remember to gamble responsibly
The Courier
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
In Pictures: 2025 Perth Festival sees punters turn out in force
Thousands turned out as the 2025 Perth Festival opened at Perth Racecourse on Wednesday. The event featured an eight-race card with two Listed contests—the £40,000 British EBF Gold Castle Novices' Hurdle, won by Willie Mullins' 'Kiss Will' and the £32,500 Quilter Cheviot Fair Maid Of Perth Mares' Chase, also won by Mullins' 'Fun Fun Fun'. The day also featured top jockeys Sean Bowen, Harry Cobden, and Brian Hughes. Kim Cessford was there to capture all the action for The Courier.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
I Am Maximus backed for National as Mullins hot streak continues
Trainer Willie Mullins' golden run continued at Aintree on Friday to increase confidence in I Am Maximus' quest to land a second successive Grand National. I Am Maximus' odds have shortened from 14-1 in January to 6-1 favouritism on the eve of the world's greatest steeplechase. That is more to do with his master trainer Mullins' sensational form at Cheltenham where he hoovered up 10 Festival winners rather than the nine-year-old's two lacklustre runs since landing last year's National. Mullins is flying high after the first two days of this year's Aintree festival, cleaning up with four Grade 1s on the opening day. On Friday he saddled another Grade 1 winner, Salvator Mundi in the two mile (3200m) novice hurdle. Then, in what can only be considered a timely if ominous omen to his rivals, Mullins' Gentleman De Mee took the Topham Chase over the iconic National fences themselves. The 14-1 shot was sporting the famous green and yellow colours of JP McManus, who owns I Am Maximus, one of five the Irishman has in the race. Not everything went Mullins' way with El Fabiolo a faller in the Grade 1 Melling Chase which presented Jonbon with some compensation after Nicky Henderson's chaser was a beaten odds-on favourite in the Queen Mother Champion chase at Cheltenham. As for I Am Maximus, he etched his name on the great steeplechase's roll of honour with a comfortable seven and a half length win in 2024 for Mullins' second National winner after Hedgehunter in 2005. Should the topweight succeed he will join a select club of back-to-back winners of the race that brings Britain to a virtual standstill with the most recent Tiger Roll and before him the legendary Red Rum. Standing in his way to greatness are not only the 30 formidable fences but 33 rivals and the small matter of the four miles, two and a half furlongs (6,900 kilometres) distance at the iconic track in Liverpool's suburbs. nr/iwd
