Mullins finds right Approach
It was a sweet outcome for both Cavan man Taylor, who bred Final Approach and moved him to Mullins’ yard after a flat campaign for Kevin Prendergast, and Mullins, who declared: “We got it right this year,” a reference to the race last year in which he saddled second, third and fourth behind Puyol.
Final Approach, whose only previous win was achieved at Downpatrick, was backed into 6/1 yesterday and got a dream run through on the inside turning for home before leading on the approach to the final flight and, driven out by Paul Townend, he kept on to triumph by two lengths from his 16/1 stable-companion.
Willie Mullins was clearly chuffed after saddling first and second and explained: “This horse had a couple of indifferent runs last season and we decided to give him a break and train him for today. Today was all we thought about for him. We were waiting all year for it.”
Mullins continued: “Paul gave him a terrific ride. The plan was to go around the inside. Doing that, you need all the breaks and he got them. Everything fell into place for him, although he got such a good run that he was in front a bit soon.
“Today was this fellow’s Derby and I haven’t looked beyond it. He’s not very big and, for that reason, will stay handicap hurdling, although he’ll probably run on the flat during the summer.
“I was delighted with the ride Emmet gave Call The Police. It was a cracking run for a horse having his third run over hurdles. He’ll step-up in trip and is a real chaser-in-the-making and will jump fences next season,”.
