Saturday, February 05, 2011
WILLIE MULLINS is a phenomenon. That five-timer at Punchestown last Sunday, from just six races, was a remarkable feat and emphasised that, at least in this country, he operates on a different level to all other trainers.
There are so many trainers struggling to get paid right now and way down on the number of horses they have in their care, compared to the so-called good old days.
But if the massive downturn has affected Mullins then there are no outward signs such is the case.
For instance two of his best horses were injured recently, Flat Out and Sous Les Cieux, both out for the rest of the campaign, but he has continued to bang in winners all over the place.
What made Punchestown so extraordinary was this was a meeting which looked fiercely competitive and most trainers would have been happy with a winner and ecstatic with a double.
But when Mullins’ Golden Silver turned the form book upside down by beating Big Zeb in the opener then the foundation had been laid. Golden Silver had not beaten Big Zeb in four previous attempts, but given an inspired drive by Paul Townend finally managed it.
Oh and those who think Big Zeb’s Cheltenham prospects didn’t take a hammering here are codding themselves.
Anyway, Mullins then proceeded to land the hardest race of the afternoon with Some Target, the three and a half mile Grand National Trial.
I thought the handicapper had been very hard on Some Target, giving him a mark of 125, on what he had achieved over fences.
Indeed that was, admitted Mullins afterwards, his opinion as well and he mentioned as much, before the race, to the handicapper.
But when you’re hot you’re just hot and it was the handicapper who was clearly the most accurate and Some Target won going away.
The victory of Mullins’ Gagewell Flyer, in the Grade 2 hurdle, was entirely predictable, but just why one firm went 2-1 in the morning and why he was available at 7-4 on track was much harder to fathom.
He duly did the business, God bless him, but not before another Mullins inmate, Earlson Gray, had given us the fright of our lives.
Earlson Gray was virtually impossible to assess, having his first run in Ireland, after arriving from France.
What we did know about him was as follows. By my reckoning, he had run on 21 occasions in his native country, winning just once.
That success came over fences at Auteuil and, in all, he ran in ten chases, ten hurdles and had a lone outing on the flat.
Overall, his form was less than inspiring, but he did have one eye-catching run which is well worth recording.
At Auteuil in November of 2009 he finished eight and a half lengths fourth in a Grade 1 chase for four-year-olds.
The winner of that contest was none other than Long Run, recently successful in the King George at Kempton and second favourite behind Imperial Commander for the Gold Cup. So, what price Earlson Gray the next day?
Winner number four for Mullins arrived with another ex-French horse, Raptor, in a maiden hurdle.
Again you would have to say that his four outings in France only hinted at him having ability, but he justified some decent wagers with a clear-cut success.
And then the icing on the cake came with Celtic Folklore, making a first appearance for Mullins, who made all of the running to take the bumper in a canter.
His sole run prior to this was in a point-to-point at Lemonfield in Limerick in March of last year, out of contention when pulled up.
A strike rate of around 25%, miles clear of the opposition as far as winners and prizemoney is concerned, where is it all going to end this season?
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