Latest news with #WillieMullins'
Irish Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stylish punters soak in the sun at penultimate day at Punchestown
Punchestown punters made sure to wear their Sunday best as the festival's penultimate day draws to a close. The day may well have belonged to State Man, who had an emphatic win in the Boodles Champion Hurdle but Friday saw thousands of punters dressed up to the nines. The sun may not have been as scorching as earlier on in the week but with temperatures hitting highs of 17 degrees, it made for comfortable weather for attendees. But the day will be remembered for Willie Mullins' trained State Man's epic win and a victory that delighted the legendary trainer. 'It's the performance we always thought he had in him. In fairness to Constitution Hill, I don't think he turned up on the day. It's very hard to travel from England after having two falls and things just didn't go right for him. 'Our fella has run his true race and that's been a constant thing in his racing life, he always turns up and runs his race. It was a huge performance. 'He's just very genuine without ever being flashy. I think the cheekpieces have made him a bit flashier than he used to be. He's a lazy horse and cheekpieces just help him. 'Paul has been adamant about this horse for the last few years, people are going on about Lossiemouth and State Man – he's always thought State Man every day of the week and it's been proven. 'I think we were all waiting for this contest and it delivered. We're just delighted.' Check out all the pictures below. Mollie Croft, Melissa Croft and Zarifa Kelly 1 of 8 Hattie Hansard from London and Islay Kingham from Blessington 2 of 8 Chloe Johnstone from Laois 3 of 8 Leah Houlihan from Kildare 4 of 8
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Majborough has ability to make up for Cheltenham disappointment
Majborough's defeat in the Arkle Chase was an early disappointment at the Cheltenham Festival but with a reasonable round of jumping, he almost certainly would have justified odds-on favouritism. Back on a retrieval mission in the Grade One Barberstown Castle Novice Chase on day three in Punchestown, he can reverse form with Only By Night, who finished runner-up in the Cheltenham Grade One. Willie Mullins' 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner made quite an impression when leading all the way in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse and followed up with a much more authoritative display in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. On the back of that, he was a short-priced favourite to complete his treble with Arkle success, but his jumping was indifferent, and a mistake at the second-last almost brought him to a halt. He did well to recover well enough to finish third, beaten just three parts of a length in total. The five-year-old has been given plenty of time since that run and barring similar accidents, he will reverse form with Only By Night. The ground will not be in favour of Teahupoo and yet he is difficult to oppose in the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle. Winner of the Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle in 2024, he followed up in this race and while he has been beaten in both outings to date this season, the first was behind Lossiemouth, and the second in an unsuitably slow running of the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. As is his wont, his track appearances are few and far between, but there is no reason to believe he won't be capable of running to the same level as he did when winning this 12 months ago. The mercurial Hiddenvalley Lake was back to his best at Aintree, though it wasn't an incredibly strong race. Rocky's Diamond's fourth-place finish in the Stayers' Hurdle leaves him with something to find with the selection, but Declan Queally's horse is just a five-year-old and he has strong each-way claims if coping with the ground. Sixandahalf is likely to be all the rage in the listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle and Gavin Cromwell's filly will take all the beating if running to the same level as when runner-up in the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival. However, she has an interesting rival in the shape of the Nicky Henderson-trained Timetoshine, and that one makes each-way appeal given she is very much unexposed. The five-year-old, who has plenty of Flat form in France, was quite green when making a winning debut over hurdles, and while her jumping on her second outing was quite clean, she was a little high over the obstacles. Nevertheless, she quickened away after the last to win as she liked, and she appeared to have the measure of Miss Altea Blue when that one fell at the last. Third time up, at Chepstow, she showed a little improvement in her jumping and didn't have to be asked a question to justify odds of 1-25. This is clearly a huge step up relative to those assignments, but she rattles off good ground, loves a strong pace in a race, and really stretches out in the closing stages. Whether she has the ability of Sixandahalf or not will only be revealed shortly after 4:50 but at early prices close to 20-1, she makes each-way appeal. The nap goes to Ksar Fatal, who contests the finale, the JP & M Doyle Bumper. When winning his only outing in a point to point, he had the useful Cardcounter five lengths back in second place, and he confirmed that promise by making a winning start on the track, at Gowran Park, readily going clear. This is a nice step up in company, but he comes here fresh, full of potential, and can continue on his winning ways. Tommy Lyons' picks: 2:30 Green Sky 3:05 Jasko Des Dames 3:40 Stealthy Tom 4:15 Jeriko Du Reponet 4:50 Timetoshine 5:25 Majborough 6:00 Teahupoo (nb) 6:35 Ksar Fatal (nap) Next best: 2:30 Withabitofluk 3:05 Midnight It Is 3:40 The Goffer 4:15 Park Of Kings 4:50 Sixandahalf 5:25 Only By Night 6:00 Rocky's Diamond 6:35 Kilwaughter
Irish Independent
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
What sets ‘magician' Willie Mullins apart from the rest is his innate ability to never stand still
T 'I'm glad I'm not a trainer because I'd hate him. I like him as a person but I'm glad I'm not a trainer because I'd detest him!' Those are the honest words of legendary jockey AP McCoy on Willie Mullins' genius and how the all-conquering Closutton maestro continues to break every record imaginable on the National Hunt scene.
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.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Confusion reigns as two horses with same name set to run in £80,000 ‘battle of the ages' at Sandown
A 'BATTLE of the ages' is set to rock Sandown on Saturday - when two horses with the same name could lock horns. One is a Cheltenham Festival superstar who's won close to £1million and is trained by the best in the game for a legendary owner. 3 3 Willie Mullins' Lossiemouth is an absolute superstar in the world of racing Credit: PA 3 While Polly Gundry's Lossiemouth hasn't quite reached the same levels as his rival Credit: Getty The other hasn't won for more than three years, is probably past his peak aged ten and is 100-1 for the same race. In what could be a nightmare for the commentator, it's Lossiemouth vs Lossiemouth in what punters joked was a 'battle of the ages'. The namesakes have both been entered in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle worth £80,000. Yet while they have the same name, they couldn't be more different in ability. Willie Mullins' Lossiemouth is a multiple Grade 1-winning monster who claimed the Mares' Hurdle in a canter at Cheltenham and backed it up in the Aintree Hurdle. She has won millionaire banker owner Ricci more than £300,000 this season alone and started her last three races at odds of 8-11 favourite, 4-6 fav and 5-4. The other Lossiemouth has form figures of 4-4-6-20-10 this season, earnings of just £4,732 and has been sent off as high as 66-1. Yet a quirk in the naming rules means both could line up under the same name. Ricci's Lossiemouth was born in France and is registered in that country's stud book. While Gundry's Grade 2-winning Lossiemouth was bred in Britain, where a joint stud book with Ireland is in operation. The different juridisctions allow them to race under the same names, much like there has been another Galopin Des Champs running elsewhere in the world. We'll know for sure whether both line up when declarations are made at 10am on Thursday. But bookies are in no doubt as to who the favourite is. Mullins' Lossiemouth is just 15-8 to win, while Gundry's is the outsider of the lot at 100-1. Horses with the same name competing against each other in the same race has happened before - but it is rare. As recently as 2020 two horses called Sierra Nevada ran against each other at Gowran Park in Ireland. 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.
