Mullins well equipped to carve out his own identity
EVERYWHERE you look at Cheltenham, there is one family name that stands out above the rest: Mullins. It’s not just record-breaking trainer Willie either. There are the jockey cousins, Patrick, Danny and claimer Charlie, who all have rides this week.
There would be a fourth if David, who won the Grand National on Rule The World in 2016, hadn’t retired early.
There are the trainers Tom, father of Charlie, and Mags, mother of Danny, who each had a runner.
While helping to get everyone safely there and back is transport ace George, whose green-liveried trucks have become such a familiar sight at the Festival.
And Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase was run in the name of the late Maureen Mullins, matriarch of the family.
Under the wing, and ready to take flight again at the Festival, as he has done before, is Emmet Mullins, son of George.
At 34, Mullins has been training for nine years after a career as a jockey that included a Cheltenham Festival win on Sir Des Champs in 2011.
‘I rode him for Willie, my one and only winner at the Festival as a jockey,’ he recalled.
“The journey back as an Irish winner was special”
‘It was in The Martin Pipe for conditional jockeys. We were off the bridle early but he finished strongly and won it well.
‘The journey coming back into the parade ring, riding an Irish favourite was special.’
Mullins turned to training in 2015, and in 2021 saddled The Shunter to win the Plate Chase just 12 days after success in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso, scooping a €100,000 bonus for the double in the process.
Improbably, it was his first runner at the meeting, and was a first winner too for jockey, Jordan Gainford.
So, what was better, riding or training the winner at Cheltenham?
‘I’d say training, even though it was during Covid and there was no one here. The bonus didn’t hurt, mind!’ said Mullins, who got on the board this year with Corbetts Cross in the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday.
In 2022, Mullins took aim at the Grand National and hit the bull with Noble Yeats, who rivals The Shunter for pride of place in his County Carlow yard, adjacent to his uncle Willie.
Now a nine-year-old, Noble Yeats return to Cheltenham today in the Stayers’ Hurdle, having lined up for the Gold Cup 12 months ago.
‘We were put firmly in our place last year. We were fourth (to Galopin Des Champs), but well beaten,’ he observed.
Mullins holds Noble Yeats in high esteem, rightly pointing out that ‘he’s never let us down’.
Last season was all about the bigger fences, on the biggest days.
‘He’d a tough campaign between the Gold Cup (fourth), the Grand National (fourth) and the Grande Steeple De Paris (seventh).
‘After that, we gave him an extended summer holiday and then reverted to hurdling
‘While the Stayers’ is a stamina test it’s not three and a quarter miles, it’s not over fences, it might be an easier stepond ping stone to the National again. ‘It’s an open enough division. I’m not saying he’s going to win it but he should be right bang there. He’ll give the owners another run for their money.’ The long-distance hurdlers have knocked spots off each other this season with the likes of Paisley Park, Champ, Crambo and Dashel Drasher, all going head to head. Noble Yeats was in the mix too, edging out the old boy Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle in January in only his secrun of the season, which should stand to him today.
Mullins is double-handed tomorrow with It’s On The Line in the Hunter’s Chase, one of the few races at the Festival where there are genuine no-hopers.
It’s On the Line was out-paced in the race last season, and seventh jumping the final fence, but rallied under Derek O’Connor to finish a close second.
‘He’s stronger and hopefully a bit wiser this season. He’s got a big engine but takes a bit of coaxing. I’ve no doubts he’s the best horse in the race but he’s a bit of a monkey. It’s about negotiating that first circuit and keeping in contention. I’d be happy getting him to the back of the last fence close enough.’
Mullins also saddles the JP McManus-owned So Scottish in the County Hurdle tomorrow, another versatile performer who was fancied for the Plate last year, where he finished seventh.
A dual purpose trainer with a maximum of 35 horses in his yard, Mullins will turn to the Flat again shortly, with The Shunter again to the fore.
‘He won the Cesarewitch last year and he’ll come back for another Flat campaign. Maybe the Chester Cup or something like that.’
Whether it’s over jumps or on the Flat, the Mullins family are no strangers to any racecards.
Given the events at Cheltenham already this week, few would bet against E Mullins joining his kith and kin in the winner’s enclosure.
“We were put firmly in our place last year”