Mullins so gracious after title is retained
WILLIE MULLINS nailed his 10th straight title, and 11th in all, as the race for the Irish trainers’ crown went to the wire in front of a bumper 34,270 crowd at Punchestown yesterday.
Two wins on the final day of the Festival, plus a cluster of placed horses, helped Mullins beat rival Gordon Elliott by almost €200,000 – a turnaround of €600,000 on the week.
‘At the start of the week we were on the wrong end of short heads and photo finishes but it all came together at the end,’ said Mullins. ‘I feel for Gordon, who led all season. I’m glad it’s over, it’s been a trying year.’
Elliott equalled Mullins’ all-time record of 193 winners in an Irish season and saddled a third grade win of the week with Apple’s Jade yesterday but still fell short. ‘I’m heartbroken,’ he said.
Robbie Power, whose career was in the balance with double vision earlier in the season, signed off with a sixth winner of the week on the Colin Tizzardtrained Sizing Codelco to finish as Festival leading jockey.
Rachael Blackmore, the new champion conditional jockey, suffered suspected concussion in a heavy fall from Mullinstrained Pique Sous in the second last race.
IN his hour of glory at Punchestown yesterday, there was no hint of triumphalism from Willie Mullins, rather relief that a troubled National Hunt season was finally over and genuine sympathy for his rival, Gordon Elliott.
‘Gordon’s a gentleman. To lead for so long, only to have it taken away at the very end, must be difficult to take. I feel for him,’ said Mullins who admitted to ‘a lack of enjoyment’ in a campaign which saw 60 horses yanked from his yard while many of his remaining stars were beset by injuries.
Through all the ‘challenges we faced’ Mullins never lost his competitive edge, nor his Irish trainer’s title either. He has 11 now, including 10 in a row.
Yet, there was a sense of irony at the sight of Rich Ricci’s colours of pink and light green spots closing the deal.
Had those silks been at Mullins’ beck and call this season, chiefly for Faugheen and Annie Power, there would have been no need for Bapaume’s final day heroics in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle .
It came at 4.30, in the fourth race on the final day of the season and saw Mullins finally wrestle command of the title from Gordon Elliott, who led all season only to be caught in the final furling
At Cheltenham, there was a nose between the two men after four days of intense competition; yesterday the gap was slightly wider after a year-long battle spanning a staggering 1,800 runners between them.
While Elliott equalled Mullins’ record number of winners, 193, cash is king in deciding the Irish champion and Mullins built on Friday’s fireworks to win by almost €200,000 – €4.58m to €4.38m. Having started the week €402,000 behind Elliott, it was some turnaround by Mullins but there was no fist clenching from the Closutton trainer at securing a 10th straight title.
Asked if this was his most satisfying title, Mullins paused before answering. ‘It was a trying season, I didn’t enjoy it to be honest. We were playing catch up this week and we just got over the line.’
Even without so many front-line stars, and the loss of his Gigginstown House string, Mullins stayed competitive and signed off with domestic winnings of almost €4.6m. ‘That surprised me,’ he said.
For Elliott, there was the consolation of equalling Mullins’ record and knowing he pushed Mullins harder than anyone.
‘I’m heartbroken as I’d love to have won it. Matching Willie’s record for a season is some compensation,’ he said. ‘We’ve had a great week with three grade one winners and Apple’s Jade was brilliant today, so we can’t complain.’
On a blustery afternoon in Kildare, Elliott struck first when Apple’s Jade (1/1), formerly in the care of Mullins, scooted clear under Bryan Cooper in the EBF Champion Mares’ Hurdle to win by 14 lengths and bump up Elliott’s total by €60,000.
With Mullins filling second, third, fourth and fifth places, he limited the damage to just €24,000, and Bapaume (2/1) and Open Eagle (20/1) stretched his lead.
By his stellar standards, Walsh had a quiet Festival but victory on Bapaume, his second of the week, netted Mullins €60,000 and effectively blocked off any escape route for Elliott. ‘I’m delighted I was finally of some use to Willie Mullins this week,’ he quipped.
Walsh, 37, bagged his 12th Irish title with 131 winners, which equalled his record of 2007-08.
Improbably, the men’s amateur title went to the very last race after Patrick Mullins won the penultimate race on Open Eagle (20/1) for his father to close to within one of Jamie Codd – Mullins had trailed by five after Thursday – but Codd clung on for a first title.
Rachael Blackmore became the first lady rider to win the Conditional Jockeys’ title, with 32 wins.
‘I never thought I’d hear my name in the same sentence as champion conditional. It’s brilliant,’ she said.