‘Festival can be a Mullins family affair’
COUSINS Danny and Emmet Mullins could muscle in on their uncle Willie’s Prestbury Park patch with a memorable Festival, reckons Ruby Walsh. As the No2 rider for his uncle, Danny is odds-on to add to his two Festival wins on Flooring Porter, who seeks to join the legendary Big Buck’s, a fourtime winner of the Stayers Hurdle, among the immortals next Thursday. ‘There’s a massive possibility that Danny Mullins could have an incredible week,’ said Walsh. ‘When it comes to Willie Mullins’ second string, while always good, they look very strong this year. ‘You’ve Facile Vega and Il Etait Temps in the “Supreme”; El Fabiolo and Dysart Dynamo in the “Arkle”; Echoes In Rain, Brandy Love and Shewearsitwell in the Mares’ Hurdle; Impaire Et Passe and Champ Kiely in the “Ballymore” and so on. ‘The same goes for the Champion Bumper and Triumph Hurdle — there will be massive second-string opportunities. ‘Danny also has Princess Zoe in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle; Morning Soldier in the “Boodles”, and Flooring Porter in the Stayers’ Hurdle. ‘As a perceived second jockey, it could be Danny Mullins’ year,’ said Walsh. Trainer Emmet is sending a small, but select, team to the Cotswolds but Walsh warns ‘you’d be a brave man to disregard any of his runners.’ ‘He’s got big chances in the second, third and fourth races on Friday with Filey Bay (County Hurdle), Corbetts Cross (Albert
Bartlett) and Noble Yeats (Gold Cup) — that’d be some treble for him. He’s also got So Scottish in the Plate on Thursday.’ ‘Emmet has made massive strides and you could almost say he’s stepping out of the shadow of his uncle,’ said Walsh, who tipped Noble Yeats each way for the Gold Cup at 66/1 earlier in the season. The 2022 Grand National winner is 8/1 to become the first horse since Golden Miller to win the Gold Cup after Aintree glory.