Mullins recalls good and bad after memorable win
WILLIE MULLINS paid tribute to late colleague Dessie Hughes and his daughter Sandra after 9-2 favourite Total Recall became only the fourth Irish-trained winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury and also eased a painful memory.
Mullins had the first past the post in 2002 in the race run as the Hennessy Gold Cup from 1957 until last year.
But Be My Royal was duly disqualified after testing positive to a banned substance linked to contaminated feed.
The last official Irish-trained winner of the race was Bright Highway in 1980.
Total Recall, bought by Dessie and trained by his daughter until she retired, had looked a leading contender since easing home in the Munster National, despite a huge subsequent hike in the handicap.
With jockey Paul Townend standing in for injured Ruby Walsh, Total Recall got up in the last 50 yards to beat Nicky Henderson’s Davy Russell-ridden Whisper by a neck.
It was nine lengths further back to third, 66-1 shot Regal Encore, and Mullins said: ‘It [Be My Royal’s disqualification] was very disappointing at the time but hopefully that is laid to rest now.
‘I’d like to compliment Sandra Hughes who brought this horse on in the style of her father and minded him while he was a young horse.
‘She did not put him over a longer trip to spoil him. When she retired, I was lucky enough to get the benefit of him.
‘I imagine Sandra would have gone down the Irish National route and probably won that with him.’
Henderson was left to rue a 4lb penalty picked up by Whisper for winning at Kempton last month. In theory, it made the difference between glory and a gallant loser.
Well-backed American and Coneygree were pulled up.