'Just before I bought Hurricane Fly, I didn't even know he existed'
Willie Mullins' long-serving ally takes to the Q&A hotseat ahead of the Festival
Name Harold Kirk
Who are some of the best horses you've bought and how did you source them? Hurricane Fly, Un De Sceaux, Vautour, Faugheen, Douvan, Wicklow Brave, Al Boum Photo, Apple's Jade, Nichols Canyon, Benie Des Dieux.
They came from a mixture of places; Wicklow Brave was bought in the Derby Sale as a store, Faugheen was bought after he won his point-to-point, and a good number of them came from France and were sourced with Pierre Boulard.
Give us a lesser known purchase you’re particularly proud of... I'm proud of a horse called Scotsirish because he's the first horse I bought for Rich Ricci.
What are the most unusual circumstances you've bought a horse in? That would be with Hurricane Fly, as just before I bought him, I didn't even know he existed. I went to buy another horse in Jean-Luc Pelletan's yard who had won at Pau, but when we got there the horse was lame.
We had all day to spend in the trainer's yard and his best horse was Hurricane Fly, though he wasn't for sale. We eventually persuaded him to sell by the end of the day.
The one that got away? Delta Work when he was bought in France.
Which sire do you think could break through at Cheltenham? I think Coastal Path could have a big Cheltenham. I've been lucky with him before and he has horses like Asterion Forlonge, Aione and Franco De Port to run for him this year.
With the National Hunt market so strong, give us a tip for finding value... I think there's very good value to be found in placed four-year-old point-to-pointers. There will be a lot of well-bred, good-looking horses in those races, but they can't all be winners, so there's definitely value to be had among those who have finished second and third.
Who is your nap for the Festival? Benie Des Dieux, in whatever race she runs in!
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Published on 1 March 2020inNews
Last updated 17:58, 1 March 2020
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