8 HIGHS & SOME BIG LOWS FROM BRILLIANT WILLIE
WILLIE MULLINS ended a hugely successful Dublin Racing Festival with a haul of eight winners, including six of the eight Grade 1 prizes on offer.
He matched Saturday’s Grade 1 treble yesterday, as part of a Sunday five-timer, thanks to the exploits of State Man, Gentleman Du Mee and Il Etait Temps.
But behind the victories of the latter pair came disappointments, as Gentleman Du Mee, with Danny Mullins deputising for the injured Mark Walsh, lowered the colours of odds on stable-companion Blue Lord in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
And, in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle, the previously unbeaten 4/9 favourite Facile Vega flopped, having forced a very strong pace before fading to finish last of five finishers stable-companion Il Etait Temps, a third Grade 1 winner of the weekend for “super sub” Danny Mullins.
Commenting on the novice, Mullins stated: “They went a mad pace up front and paid the penalty. Danny let them at it and picked up the pieces,” and , referring to Facile Vega, added: “We’ll just have to ride him like a racehorse at Cheltenham not a machine.”
And Mullins confirmed that Gentleman Du Mee, now a dual Grade 1 winner, will head for the Queen Moither Champion Chase, along with Blue Lord, and the stable’s main contender Energumene.
Also Cheltenham bound is Gaelic Warrior, who defied top-weight of 11-12, under Paul Townend, in the Liffey Handicap Hurdle while Fun Fun Fun will head to either Cheltenham or Aintree following her win in the Grade 2 mares bumper.
Earlier, Mighty Potter, the only non-mullins runner in a six-strong line-up, gave Gordon Elliott his second Grade 1 novice chase success of the weekend when justifying even-money favouritism in the
Ladbrokes Novice Chase, stretching clear to score by eight and a half lengths, with Adamantly Chosen faring best of the Closutton quintet in second spot.
“He’s just a good horse,” stated Elliott, “Davy let him roll and he won well. He used to be keen, but he’s settling a lot better this year.
“The Turners is definitely his target and, hopefully, Jack (Kennedy) will be back to ride him.
“He’s a quicker horse than Gerri Colombe (winner of the Scilly Isles at Sandown on Saturday), who’ll go for the Brown Advisory.