Latest news with #Mullins-trained
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Little-known trainer's joy as Willie Mullins swoops to buy stable star for £300k
Mullins bought Poetisa from Toby Bulgin at the Doncaster's Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale. The mare is set to join horses like Grand National hero Nick Rockett and dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at Closutton A trainer with only a dozen horses to compete is celebrating after Willie Mullins swooped to buy his stable star for £300,000. The all-conquering handler was determined to secure Poetisa, a first time out winner for Toby Bulgin at Cheltenham's April Meeting. Mullins had to fend off rival Nicky Henderson in a bidding war at Doncaster's Goffs UK Spring Horses in Training and Point-to-Point Sale on Wednesday. Represented by talent scout Harold Kirk, the Closutton maestro forked out an extra £10,000 to prevent the 20-1 scorer from going to Seven Barrows. "It was beyond our wildest dreams to have Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson bidding against each other for our horse," said Bulgin, who returned to winning ways in 2021 after a 32-year break from racing. "I think she is an absolute star and had been working so well on the run up to Cheltenham." Over the years, Kirk has sourced numerous stars for Mullins, including Hurricane Fly - who gained legendary status with a record 22 victories at Grade One level - and 11-time top flight hero Faugheen. Bulgin and his wife Nicola bought Poetisa from last year's Goffs Doncaster Spring Store Sale for only £42,000 and brought her along steadily. But impressive homework saw her start out at Prestbury Park with three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes in the saddle. Settled in midfield, the daughter of Poet's Word overcame trouble-in-running in a fiercely competitive event to score in determined fashion. Poetisa is now set to join current Mullins-trained stars like Grand National titleholder Nick Rockett and dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at his stables in Ireland. "We took her to Kempton and Newbury on the run up to the race," said Bulgin, a former jockey who went straight from boarding school to take a job with Sir Mark Prescott in 1976. "She has so much natural ability and it was tempting to go for the Grade Two bumper at Aintree, but we decided Cheltenham wouldn't be so much of an ask. "Brian said he would leave it late and it was really exciting to see her get to the front up the hill." The couple, who farmed cattle and sheep for many years in Norfolk, have eight three-year-olds at home in Lambourn, with five yet to be broken in. Many years ago Toby Bulgin left racing and gained a role in a company which manufactured electrical components, earning money to support his family. In 2021 he returned to his beloved sport after more than three decades away when Luckofthedraw hit the target in a Fontwell chase. "I was always going to come back to it," he said. "We usually have a dozen horses in training and others to break in. "Selling Poetisa helped to pay last year's bills - with feed, farriers and so on it is an expensive business. We also found a nice horse for Paul Nolan called Rue Taylor, who has won maiden and novice hurdles in Ireland. "The feeling at the sales is a mixture of nerves and excitement. It is also a relief when the right faces appear at the ringside and you get a result." Kirk admitted he had to dig a little deeper than he had expected to secure Poetisa, bred by Reamonn and Shauna Rice from Chars, an Old Vic half-sister to the top-class hurdler Macs Joy. 'I thought she'd make between £200,000 and £250,000, but there's always going to be somebody else on a horse like this," he said. "If you're up against Nicky Henderson, you're going to have to be strong. I thought she was the standout here today. I hope she's lucky now.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scottish Grand National 2025 live stream and TV guide: How to watch the today's race from Ayr online
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability subject to change. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit:The 2025 Scottish Grand National live stream sees trainer Willie Mullins hoping to cruise into the lead in the British Trainers' Championship with victory at Ayr Racecourse. Below we have all the info on how to watch the Scottish Grand National from anywhere, with details on worldwide TV channels, broadcasters and free streams. Advertisement Run since the mid-1800s, the Scottish Grand National always attracts a strong field of runners and this year is no different. A total of 23 horses from all over the UK will travel to Ayr in the hope of landing the $260,000 prize, including last year's winner Macdermott. The seven-year-old gelding is one of six horses trained by Mullins that will be bidding for success in Scotland. The former jockey trained the first three home in the Grand National at Aintree last week and will be hoping for a similar result this Saturday. The Mullins-trained Chosen Witness is the favorite ahead of Macdermtt, while another of his stable, Captain Cody, is seen as a potential winner. Conditions have been maintained after a warm first day of the meeting on Friday and it is forecast to be dry but cloudy today. The ground is good to soft so it's perhaps race conditions. Advertisement Here's how to watch a Scottish Grand National 2025 live stream wherever you are. We've also detailed the full list of runners and riders down below. Watch Scottish Grand National 2025: Quick Guide Date and time Date: Saturday, April 12 Start time: 3.35pm BST / 10.35am ET / 7.35am PT Best free stream Can I watch Scottish Grand National 2025 for free? You can watch the 2025 Scottish Grand National for FREE on ITVX in the UK. The race will also be broadcast live on ITV1. You need to register with an email address to access the ITVX streaming platform, and don't for forget that you need a valid TV Licence to stream live TV in the UK. Watch FREE on ITVX – UK Unblock geo-restrictions: Use a VPN to watch Scottish Grand National 2025 for free on your usual streaming service if you're traveling outside the UK. Use a VPN to watch any Scottish Grand National 2025 stream Editors Choice NordVPN – get the world's best VPN We regularly review all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. It unblocked every streaming service in testing and it's very straightforward to use. Speed, security and 24/7 support available if you need it – it's got it all. The best value plan is the two-year deal which sets the price at around $3 per month with 3 extra months free. There's also an all-important a 30-day no-quibble refund if you decide it's not for you. Advertisement - Try NordVPN 100% risk-free for 30 daysVIEW DEAL ON TV tips email: Never be stuck for anything to watch again Can I watch Scottish Grand National 2025 in the US? Unfortunately, as things stand, it doesn't look as though any broadcasters have picked up the Scottish Grand National in the US. However, if you're a Brit abroad who wants to watch their usual racing coverage, we'd recommend downloading a VPN and using a UK-based server to watch it on ITVX as usual. Runners, riders, odds and favorites Who are the runners and riders at the Scottish Grand National? Mr Incredible Alice Stevens (Sandy Thomson) Henry's Friend Ben Jones (Ben Pauling) Advertisement Our Power Dylan Johnston (Sam Thomas) Olympic Man Patrick Mullins (Willie Mullins) Macdermott Danny Mullins (Willie Mullins) Famous Bridge Sean Quinlan (Nicky Richards) Captain Cody Harry Cobden (Willie Mullins) Surrey Quest Kevin Brogan (Toby Lawes) Chosen Witness Sean O'Keeffe (Willie Mullins) Spanish Harlem Brian Hayes (Willie Mullins) Hasthing Jonjo O'Neill Jr. (Jonjo & AJ O'Neill) Rock My Way Brendan Powell (Joe Tizzard) Sail Away Harry Skelton (Dan Skelton) Wiseguy Nico de Boinville (Nicky Henderson) Advertisement Flash de Touzaine Sean Flanagan (Liz Doyle) Walking On Air Richie McLernon (Faye Bramley) The Kniphand Sam Twiston-Davies (Nigel Twiston-Davies) Grozni Callum Pritchard (James Owen) Dom of Mary Caoilin Quinn (David Bridgwater) Snipe Harry Atkins (Dan Skelton) Klarc Kent Jonathan Burke (Willie Mullins) Magna Sam TBC (Alastair Ralph) Brandt Sean Bowen (Cian Collins) What time is the 2025 Scottish Grand National? The 2025 Scottish Grand National live stream starts on Saturday, April 12 at 3.35pm BST local time in the UK. That's 10.35am ET / 7.35am PT in the US, and 12.35am AEDT on Sunday morning in Australia. What are the 2025 Scottish Grand National odds and favorites? At the time of writing (9am ET on Friday), Chosen Witness is favorite with short odds of 7/2 with the majority of UK bookmakers. It's followed by Macdermott (7/1) and then Captain Cod at 12/1.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Which horses is JP McManus running in the 2025 Irish Grand National?
JP McManus runs four horses in this year's BoyleSports Irish Grand National as he chases another victory in the historic race. The Limerick businessman last won the race in 2023 when the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus triumphed before winning the Aintree Grand National the following season. Last year McManus' Any Second Now finished second in the race behind only Intense Raffles. And the Ted Walsh-trained gelding is back at Fairyhouse for another crack at the famous race at the grand old age of 13. McManus will be hoping that Sa Majeste continues his upward trajectory in the big race. The Mullins-trained gelding ran really well to finish third in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time out. McManus teamed up with Jonjo O'Neill to win the 2014 Irish Grand National with Shutthefrontdoor, and they are running Johnnywho in this year's edition. In the race that Sa Majeste finished third, Johnnywho was a very unlucky loser. He looked to have the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at his mercy but a poor jump at the last cost him the race. The Irish Grand National would be a great consolation, though. Finally, Mullins has progressive mare Bioluminescence running in his famous green and gold silks. The Gavin Cromwell-trained mare has taken to fences really well and will relish any rain that falls at Fairyhouse. Last time out Bioluminescence was second to Spindleberry at the Meath venue, who won a Grade 1 novice chase on Sunday. In total, then, McManus runs Any Second Now, Sa Majeste, Johnnywho and Bioluminescence in the big race.
The Guardian
31-01-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Extraordinary depth puts Willie Mullins in Dublin Racing Festival box-seat
Willie Mullins completed a clean sweep of the eight Grade One races at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2024 and Ireland's perennial champion trainer is odds-on to win at least seven this time around, not least because Gordon Elliott, the current leader in the title race, has opted to steer several of his stable stars away from the two-day meeting. The strength and depth of Mullins's squad across the weekend is extraordinary. On Friday afternoon, there were 21 horses priced up at single-figure odds for the DRF's Grade One events – and all but three will carry a 'WPM' saddlecloth. Another lesson from last year's meeting, though, is that the idea of first, second or even third-string runners from the Mullins stable is a little out-of-date. Danny Mullins, the trainer's nephew, upstaged Paul Townend, the stable No 1, on the opening day, riding a 535-1 treble in the first three Grade Ones, and extending a remarkable record over the course of his career that has now seen him notch 21 Grade One wins for his uncle, none of which set off as favourite. Do not be afraid to take on a Mullins-trained favourite with a stable companion, in other words, and Ile Atlantique (2.55), a useful hurdler who already looks better over fences, is an interesting alternative to the odds-on Majborough, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner, in the Irish Arkle. But it is hard to see beyond the outstanding Galopin Des Champs (3.30) in the Irish Gold Cup, the opening day's feature race, for all that the head-to-head between the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and his up-and-coming stable companion, Fact To File, currently stands at one-all. Fact To File was nearly three lengths in front of Galopin Des Champs in the two-and-a-half mile John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in November, but the eight-year-old had no answer to Galopin Des Champs's stamina from the last to the line when they met over three miles for the first time in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December. That win extended Galopin Des Champs's unbeaten record over fences at Leopardstown to six races and it will be a major surprise if he does not add a seventh on Saturday, ahead of an attempt to become the first three-time Gold Cup winner since Best Mate in 2004 at Cheltenham in March. Wetherby: 12.30 Kelya Wood 1.00 Empty Nest 1.33 Lud'Or 2.08 No No Tango 2.43 Mr Bramley 3.15 Jerrysback 3.50 Little Ledgend 4.22 Parish Quiz. Sandown: 12.50 Old Cowboy 1.25 Sole Solution (nap) 2.00 Classic Maestro 2.35 Kalif Du Berlais 3.07 Henri The Second 3.42 O'Connell 4.12 Hurricane Pat. Musselburgh: 1.42 Maitre En Science 2.17 Freddy Robinson 2.50 Fidelio Vallis (nb) 3.22 Intense Approach 3.57 Boomslang 4.27 Book Of Tales. Newcastle: 4.17 Busby 4.50 Mum's Called 5.25 Molveno 5.55 Stroxx 6.25 Jamaican Storm 6.55 Quandary 7.25 Time Patrol 7.55 My Boy Jack. Wolverhampton: 4.40 Smart Hero 5.10 Balgowan 5.40 Jonny Garlic 6.10 Perfect Parole 6.40 Paradoxical 7.10 Fan Mail 7.40 Ultramarine 8.10 Sonmarg. Sandown 1.25 The lightly-raced Sole Solution may have been handed a generous opening mark following a comfortable success at Hereford this month. Musselburgh 1.42 Harry Derham's recent import Maitre En Science has several pounds in hand of his field on French form and should book a slot in the Triumph Hurdle with a successful British debut. Sandown 2.00 With question marks over several of the more experienced runners, the novice Classic Maestro is fairly priced at around 6-1 to continue his progress over fences. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Musselburgh 2.17 Freddy Robinson put up a career-best over this track and trip and on similar ground in November and looks overpriced at around 14-1. Sandown 2.35 While Kalif Du Berlais had just two rivals to beat in a handicap at Cheltenham last time, he was carrying top weight and posted a strong time so 7-2 could be generous in another small field. Musselburgh 2.50 Derham's string shows distinct signs of finding form after a difficult start to the winter campaign and course-and-distance winner Fidelio Vallis is interesting here with Alice Stevens – who has a 33pc strike-rate for the stable – back in his saddle. Sandown 3.07 Henri The Second has an excellent record at this track and can register a third course win. Sandown 3.42 A hold-up running style makes it difficult for the handicapper to get to grips with O'Connell and even a 9lb rise for his latest success may not be enough to end his winning streak.
