Big handicap double for Emmet Mullins initiated by Vischio landing family race

No member of the Mullins family had been victorious in the Listed mares' handicap hurdle named in memory of Paddy and Maureen Mullins, but that changed on Sunday as their grandsons Emmet and Danny teamed up to win the 2025 running with Vischio.

The ex-Dick Donohoe-trained mare bounded clear from the final flight to score by five lengths and, to make it doubly sure, Tom Mullins saddled the runner-up Kimy.

It is not the first time Emmet Mullins has won a race run in memory of his grandmother. He won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last year with Corbetts Cross, but this one was a bit more special. 

His cousin Danny was on board and Vischio was bought for €52,000 by Jack Cantillon for Syndicates Racing at the Goffs November Sale with this race in mind.

The winning trainer said: "Danny and Jack were talking at the sales and Jack was plucky enough to put his hand up. This has been the plan since then. Once or twice I wasn't sure where I was with her, but she's really come good in the past week. She doesn't take a lot of work, so it managed to pan out in our favour."

Mullins added: "Once Danny was able to get her off at the start, I told him to keep holding on to her. She ran into a bit of trouble, but to her credit she was tough and gutsy and hit the line well. It's been a special 12 months, winning this race and winning granny's race at Cheltenham too. 

"Vischio won a Listed race on the Flat for Dick Donohoe, so if there is a Pattern race early in the season with cut in the ground she will probably take her chance, but today was the plan."

McLaurey one for the future

Emmet Mullins completed a big handicap double in the Listed handicap hurdle with the JP McManus-owned McLaurey. 

Ridden by Mark Walsh, who was aboard his third winner of the meeting, McLaurey received a nice tow into the race from the second-last and was just doing enough on the run to the line to beat the staying-on Storm Heart by a length.

Mullins said: "He's improved for every run but mentally he's not all there yet. Mark said today was the first time he really travelled in a race. There's a big engine there and he could step up in trip in time. He's still a big baby."

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