Mullins sings praises of Trophy entry Total Recall
WILLIE MULLINS reports ante-post favourite Total Recall to be “doing everything right” ahead of the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
The feature handicap, formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup, has not been won by an Irish-trained runner since 1980 when Michael O’Brien’s Bright Highway was successful.
Total Recall, who was sent to Mullins following the retirement of Sandra Hughes, absolutely bolted on his first run for the yard in the Munster National at Limerick, beating Alpha Des Obeaux, who recently won the Clonmel Oil Chase.
“He did one or two bits of work and it looked like his rating might be a little low with the type of work he was doing at home,” said Mullins, referring to his Limerick win.
“A lot of things went his way and he won very handily at the end. You need a lot of luck in those races and he got it that day. He is doing everything right at home.”
Total Recall won at Limerick off a mark of 129 and will race off 147 on Saturday.
“I don’t know whether the handicapper has caught up with him or not,” said Mullins.
“If the weights stay as they are, it’s a lovely racing weight. The trip won’t be a problem and jumping won’t be a problem, so he has a lot going for him.”
Mullins is also set to run Childrens List and Pleasant Company.
Nicky Henderson has won the race three times, most recently with Triolo D’Alene in 2013, and he expects to saddle RSA Chase runner-up Whisper, the winner of a graduation chase at Kempton on his reappearance for which he carries a 4lb penalty.
“That was a good race at Kempton. I know it was a twohorse race, but there was not much in it. The extra trip will help him. It was exactly what we wanted to do,” said Henderson of his recent win.
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Davy Russell rides most horses for owner Dai Walters and the pair have a good relationship.
“Davy gets on with this horse really well. He will already have an idea of where he is going to go and what he is going to do. He is a great jockey and is pretty cunning and he will have a plan,” said Henderson.
Henderson also runs Vyta Du Roc, but usual partner Daryl Jacob will be unable to do the weight of 10st 1lb if, as expected, top-weight Coneygree runs.
Meanwhile, Bryan Cooper will see consultant orthopaedic surgeon Paddy Kenny today to have the damage to the shoulder he hurt in a fall at Ascot last Friday assessed.