Mullins is keeping the sunny side up
WILLIE Mullins has installed a weather station overlooking his gallops in Closutton. It’s connected to an app on his phone which informs him, 24/7, of all things weather-related, come rain, hail, sunshine or wind.
‘It was a present to myself,’ revealed Mullins yesterday, of a gizmo that Noah probably could have done with on the Ark.
Predicting weather patterns is one thing; predicting the number of winners Mullins will have at the Cheltenham Festival in four weeks’ time is another.
As it stands, he has 12 favourites for the 28 races and will send over in excess of 60 runners.
‘At least six of those (favourites) are going to be beaten. I don’t know which ones. I’d be delighted if six of them won. It doesn’t always work out,’ he said.
‘Last year, we’d six (winners), and at least we got the right one (Gold Cup).’
Mullins has rarely left Cheltenham empty-handed in the past 15 years or so — he’s had 84 winners since 2008. He has saddled a record-breaking 94 in total and only a fool would bet against him smashing the 100-winner mark when battle resumes.
‘People said that last year, that I’d go past the mark. It’s very hard to win there. No one is gifted a winner at Cheltenham. We’ve gone one or two days without a winner there.
‘Every year you forget how hard it is to win a race there, how hard it is to get into position at the first or second hurdle, you watch your riders being bashed going down to the hurdles or fences.
‘Everyone is so hyped up at Cheltenham. We don’t go there expecting to win. We hope to win,’ he said.
Spearheading the Mullins elite corps are Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup) and State Man (Champion Hurdle.)
As ‘Galopin’ gawked at the activity in front of his box for a Cheltenham media day, Mullins issued an upbeat bulletin about his chances of emulating Al Boum Photo and defending his title in ‘a tip-top Gold Cup’.
Whether he’s sent off in front by Paul Townend, or held up, Mullins is confident his eightyear-old stable flag-bearer will stand firm.
‘We wanted him ridden off the pace for two years before because he was too keen and I felt he’d get drawn into a battle, which he didn’t get drawn into last year,’ added Mullins
‘This year I don’t mind (if there’s a battle), the horse obviously enjoys it. He’s stronger and he’s more mature now and I think he’ll be up for it.’
The Champion Hurdle picture is dominated by the unbeaten Constitution Hill but if any horse can put it up to him, it’s State Man, second last year.
‘He’s in great order. He doesn’t have the pizazz of Faugheen or the speed of Hurricane Fly but he has other qualities. He jumps well. He’s so consistent.
‘He hasn’t won a Champion Hurdle yet but he’ll have a crack this year and maybe next year too,’ said the trainer of his sole Champion Hurdle runner.
‘Hopefully, we can turn the tables this year. We’ve a lot more experience with him now and he’s going to be really race fit.
‘Nicky Henderson does have a habit of getting his horse right on the day. We hope there’s going to be a hell of a race.’
Mullins had 23 of his Festival candidates on the gallops including El Fabiolo, Monkfish, Il Etait Temps, Fact To File, Dinoblue and Ballyburn.
At the moment, all dreams are intact, but Mullins knows from experience to be wary.
‘I’m always dreading, especially on Monday, my phone going off and we’ve three lame horses. As long as I don’t see State Man, Galopin Des Champs coming up on the list, it’s fine.
‘For argument’s sake, suppose they both went (down with injury), then that’s a fair dent.
‘If a good horse goes down, next thing the whole yard goes.
‘Keep the good horses going, and it seems to lift the other players. Morale around the yard is good.’
Sunny side up, as it were.
“You forget
how hard it is to win there”