'That was a huge performance' - son of Galileo and Annie Power slashed for Cheltenham after shining for Willie Mullins

The Willie Mullins-trained Mystical Power emulated his immensely talented dam Annie Power by scoring at the Galway festival as the four-year-old got the champion trainer off to a dream start in the opening 2m½f novice hurdle.

As a son of five-time Grade 1 winner Annie Power, lofty expectations were always going to be attached to the JP McManus-owned gelding and he delivered in impressive style on his hurdling debut, scooting away from runner-up Samui by seven lengths.

The 6-4 shot was fresh in jockey Mark Walsh's hands in the early stages as he was settled in mid-division before making a couple of novice errors in the middle section of the race. However, once Walsh angled out his mount at the three-furlong pole, he had plenty of horse under him to utilise a gap on the inside of the John McConnell-trained Hypotenus and from there it was plain sailing.

The son of Galileo is now 2-2 after stylishly winning a Ballinrobe bumper in May and Paddy Power reacted to the performance by cutting him into 16-1 (from 33-1) for both the Supreme and Ballymore at this season's Cheltenham Festival.

Kiely among the winners again: John Kiely (third left), fresh from steering Limerick to a fourth successive All-Ireland hurling title, joins the winning team of (from left) owner JP McManus, Sir Anthony McCoy, jockey Mark Walsh, groom Natalia Kubacka, Ben Carthy, Willie Mullins, Justin Carthy and Frank Berry after Mystical Power lands the opening race of the Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann

A clearly impressed Willie Mullins said: "That was a huge performance when compared to his bumper win. There's a lot of improvement left in his jumping, he made at least three mistakes, maybe four.

"Hopefully he can be half as good as his mother. We'll continue hurdling with him rather than going back to the Flat, I might do that next year with him. He looks like a horse for maybe the Royal Bond.

"Mark pulled him out early as he said he was too keen over the first two flights but I thought he had jumped very well over them. Then he said he was idling a bit past the winning post but once he gave him a squeeze and got him back up into the race he just locked on again.

"I didn't ask him too much at home," Mullins added. "We schooled him and he went well. Enda Bolger did a lot of schooling with him before he came to us and said he was very good. I wouldn't say he showed us any more at home than he had before Ballinrobe but he's just improving with age and maturity. He sweated a lot last time but today he didn't turn a hair. He's coming together nicely."

More Mullins magic

Emmet Mullins demonstrated all of his trademark nous for a big-race plan by producing the suitably named Teed Up to gamely justify favouritism in the featured Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders' Handicap on the opening night of the Galway festival. 

In particular, Mullins has a knack of arriving at Ballybrit at the height of summer with a handful of horses primed for owners Pierce and Annette Mee, and their son Michael. The Mee family relish the week in the west and Teed Up epitomises their love affair with the place.

He turned up this time having won three and been second twice in his five previous outings here, and vindicated 7-2 favouritism in a competitive affair in decisive fashion under 7lb claimer Ray Barron, who was riding his first winner on the Flat on his first ride in the prestigious race. It was also his first ride for Mullins.

Having been second on deep ground in the November Handicap at Doncaster last year, Teed Up was one of the few who thrived in the gruelling conditions, which were officially heavy on the Flat course after sustained morning rainfall.

Teed Up: lands the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at the Galway festival under Ray BarronCredit: Patrick McCann

He warmed up by filling the same berth at Tramore earlier in July, and Barron brought him there tanking down the hill to lead on the home turn. When push came to shove, Teed Up edged to his left and needed the line, but he had enough to prevail by a half a length from The Very Man, with Shajak and HMS Seahorse flashing home close behind. On a decent night for punters, he was the fourth successive market leader to oblige. 

"The trip was a slight concern but Ray gave him a fantastic ride," Mullins said. "He slotted in and had the pace to travel, and he handled the ground, which is a great advantage today."

Mullins, who suggested Teed Up will likely run once or twice more later in the week, is the sixth of his family to saddle the winner of the race after his grandfather Paddy and uncles Willie, Tom and Tony, while his cousin Patrick was also successful last year.

He added: "It was a funny race as I think the early pace collapsed coming down into the dip, but he showed guts to tough it out on his own. He was a bit wayward but he kept his head down."

Barron, a Limerick native based with Charles Byrnes, was delighted to have got the opportunity at short notice. 

He said: "I had no ride in the race all week. Emmet booked me on Friday evening, so it was like Christmas getting the call, and around Galway riding for Emmet and the Mee family, you always have a chance. It was nice to get it done for them today."

"He was tough," he added of Teed Up. "He broke well and travelled very smoothly throughout the race. He was nearly travelling too smoothly turning in, so I kind of had to kick on and probably got to the front a bit too soon, but he was always doing enough."

Mythology muscles home

Mythology deservedly got his head in front at the fourth attempt in the 7f maiden after a promising effort behind Henry Longfellow at the Curragh nine days earlier.

The two-year-old muscled his way up the hill and extended away from the Paddy Twomey-trained newcomer Sea The Polaris by two and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien mooted Deauville as a possible next step for the son of Starspangledbanner, who holds an entry in the Prix Francois Boutin over 7f on August 13.

O’Brien said: “It was a very good run at the Curragh the last day and he had a good run there the time before that as well. He deserved to get his head in front and he will get confidence from that.

“He’ll probably go to Deauville in two weeks for a Group race. He handles a bit of juice but I think he would be fine on better ground too.“

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