Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MULLINS REALLY PACKS A PUNCH
Willie wallops rivals yet again to sign off Festival in real style
AS he has done all week Willie Mullins ran riot with a big race treble on the fifth and final day of a memorable Punchestown Festival.
Following a week in which Mullins sent out a record-breaking 17 winners to retain his champion trainer’s title, he landed the last two Grade Ones on offer this season.
The top class Benie Des Dieux got the ball rolling when she won the Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle.
Apple’s Jade was an odds on favourite to avenge her defeat at Cheltenham but she could only manage third as Benie Des Dieux made it five wins from five starts for Mullins.
The 3/1 chance was produced by Paul Townend to lead on the run to the last and she kept on well to see off stablemate Augusta Kate.
“She’s as good as I thought she was. The plan all season with her was to win the mares hurdle at Cheltenham and then come back and win here,” said Mullins (inset) yesterday. “I haven’t looked beyond today and I’d say that will be her finished until next winter although we could be tempted by going to France.”
After this race Mullins was presented with his champion trainer’s trophy which he was picking up for the
12th time.
This means that the trainer has equalled the great Tom Dreaper for championship successes.
Saldier brought up a
Grade 1 double for Mullins as he upstaged some better fancied rivals in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.
Robbie Power’s mount was returned a well-backed 10/1 chance and he coped best with the steady pace.
Saldier was travelling well as the closely packed field turned for home and he picked up best to defeat Mr Adjudicator by three lengths with the Triumph winner, Farclas, taking fifth.
“He’s a horse that we think quite a bit of but he just needed to brush up his jumping, which he did today,” added Mullins.
“None of our four-year-olds have had that hard a season so I would say that we will look at going to France with them next month.”
The last six figure pot of the week also came to Mullins as Meri Devie and Rachael Blackmore bagged the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle.
A third winner of the week for her jockey, the 14/1 shot battled on well from the last to see off her stablemate C’est Jersey.
“She’s a good mare and she obviously likes this track,” said Mullins.
“She just got very strong on me this season and I’ve struggled to get her fit.
“She’s one that we might keep going with and I wouldn’t mind going back to the flat with her.”