'We think we know which of them is best, but we don't' - fourth string Dancing City kicks off huge day for Willie Mullins

Danny Mullins picked up where he left off at the previous Dublin Racing Festival by thwarting a Willie Mullins-trained first string with a less-fancied Closutton stablemate, when guiding Dancing City to victory in the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle. 

The rider went on to do the very same aboard Kargese and Il Etait Temps in the following two races – making it 26 career Grade 1s – and that has been a recurring theme at the Leopardstown gala over the past few years. His uncle might own the place, but Danny has a fair share himself. 

The winner of this €150,000 contest was trimmed to 12-1 from 50-1 in Betfair's Sportsbook for the Albert Bartlett at next month's Cheltenham Festival, which amounts to less of splash and more of a ripple in the ante-post market. 

With the likes of Mystical Power, Ballyburn, High Class Hero, Tullyhill, Reading Tommy Wrong and Ile Atlantique to also call upon, Mullins' latest Grade 1-winning novice has to contend with some classy operators to be considered part of the elite.

Dancing City may well get there yet, but at odds of 16-1 here, the market made him the outsider of the stable's quartet with Predators Gold sent off the evens favourite on his first try at this 2m6½f trip. However, Paul Townend's mount could never quite get to grips with the seven-year-old victor, who took over from the pacesetting Jetara as they swung for home before keeping on to see off the favourite by a length and a quarter.

"I knew going up in trip that it would bring out a big improvement in him," Mullins said of what was his third winner in the race since it was upgraded to the highest level in 2018. 

"I thought that for Predators Gold, too, but I think Paul felt he was doing too much throughout the race, he was too keen, so he looks like a Baring Bingham horse and this fellow could be an Albert Bartlett type."

He added: "My four jockeys went out there to ride their own races for their own owners, all going out to do their best. We're just learning about these horses too. I was disappointed with Loughglynn, he didn't jump early on and got worse as the race went on, and I Will Be Baie just couldn't handle the ground. 

"We think we know which of them is best, but we don't! If we did, I think we'd all be driving bigger cars."

Dancing City pulls clear of Predators Gold (left) and JetaraCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The winning rider also landed the 2022 running aboard Minella Cocooner. As he did then, he set off in front on the Marie and Joe Donnelly-owned Dancing City. Eventual third Jetara took over under Rachael Blackmore after the fourth flight before the winner again took charge heading to the last and stayed on well all the way to the line. 

"The plan was to make it, but Willie would always leave Plan B to me if anything changes – he leaves it open to adjust and make it happen," said Danny Mullins. "Once I committed him he didn't stop the whole way to the line." 

Read this next:

Galopin Des Champs swats aside Fastorslow to avenge defeats and bring up Willie Mullins Grade 1 four-timer 

Leopardstown is wonderland for Danny Mullins as Il Etait Temps brings up 534-1 treble with Marine Nationale well beaten 

Kenny Alexander's Kargese 8-1 for Triumph Hurdle after leading home 1-2-3-4 for Willie Mullins 

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