Champion trainer quickly up and running with embarrassment of riches to juggle
Tony O'Hehir catches up with the master of Closutton
Ireland’s most powerful jumps yard has got quickly up and running as the season clicks into gear and, with strength in depth across all divisions, Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival and 13-time champion trainer in his home country, is understandably happy with his lot.
Last season proved a memorable one for the Mullins yard with Al Boum Photo providing the trainer with a first Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup win and a first BoyleSports Irish Grand National courtesy of Burrows Saint.
Other highlights included a hat-trick of Grade 1 chase wins for Kemboy, who rounded off his season by defeating Al Boum Photo in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup. The Cheltenham showpiece is again the target for Al Boum Photo and Kemboy, although plans for the latter are uncertain because of the rumpus over the Supreme Horse Racing Club, whose colours he has raced in, which has had its ownership cancelled by Horse Racing Ireland.
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Published on inStable Tours
Last updated
Copy- 'We hope he's a Triumph Hurdle horse, so until he tells us otherwise we'll be aiming him that way'
- 'He could make it right to the very top over fences’ - Willie Mullins’ exclusive horse-by-horse guide to his extraordinary team
- 'He's bigger, stronger, definitely getting better - and he'll be a classy horse going back into handicaps'
- 'Our novice chasers are as good as anyone's in Britain - and this one is a proper horse'
- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'
- 'We hope he's a Triumph Hurdle horse, so until he tells us otherwise we'll be aiming him that way'
- 'He could make it right to the very top over fences’ - Willie Mullins’ exclusive horse-by-horse guide to his extraordinary team
- 'He's bigger, stronger, definitely getting better - and he'll be a classy horse going back into handicaps'
- 'Our novice chasers are as good as anyone's in Britain - and this one is a proper horse'
- 'Having a winner at the Cheltenham Festival last season made a big difference - and this might be one for the same race'