Limini is ready for comeback
CHELTENHAM Festival heroine Limini bids to provide Patrick Mullins with his first victory in the prestigious Connacht Hotel Handicap for qualified riders at Galway today.
With a total prize fund of €100,000 up for grabs, the two-mile, one-furlong contest is the feature on the opening night of the Festival at Ballybrit.
Mullins, who recently became the winning-most amateur rider in Irish racing history and has claimed several winners at Cheltenham, enjoying Grade One success over hurdles and fences, admits this prestigious event is one race he would dearly love to add to his CV.
‘I always regard this race as the amateur derby,’ he said. ‘My father [Willie Mullins] won this on Pargan in 1985 with 12st 7lb. Unfortunately for me the weights aren’t that high these days, but it’s a race I’d love to win, for sure.’
Limini won the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, but has not been seen in competitive action since finishing third behind Apple’s Jade and stablemate Vroum Vroum Mag in the 2017 Mares’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park. The sevenyear-old is preparing for her first start on Flat since running in France almost four years ago.
Mullins added: ‘Limini seems in good form and she’s carrying 11st 3lb, which is just about my minimum weight.
‘She’s been off the track for nearly 18 months, which is obviously a bit of a worry, but she’s running off a mark of 89 and we’d like to think she’ll be a lot better than that in time. ‘If the long lay-off doesn’t hinder her too much she must have a huge chance.’ Limini is one of three runners for champion trainer Willie Mullins (left), who is bidding to claim the prize for the second year in succession after Whiskey Sour’s triumph 12 months ago. Whiskey Sour is owned by Luke McMahon and was ridden by his son, Aubrey, and this year the same connections are represented by Uradel.
The third Mullins representative is Chelkar, who shaped with abundant promise on his first start for the Closutton handler when fourth behind stable companion Lagostovegas in last month’s Ascot Stakes. Richie Deegan takes the ride.
Gordon Elliott saddles Brutal and Batts Rock, ridden by Jamie Codd and Lisa O’Neill, respectively.
Other leading contenders include John Murphy’s Brazos, the mount of Derek O’Connor, and John Kiely’s Decision Time, who is partnered by Declan Queally.