Mullins: No excuses for Fly defeat
The 10-time Grade One winner was considered one of the bankers of the meeting in the opening day feature, but was in trouble some way out under Ruby Walsh.
The eight-year-old deserves some credit for finishing third given he was clearly not at his best and Mullins is hoping the spark returns at the Punchestown Festival next month.
“He’s fine this morning. He just didn’t fire on the day for what ever reason and we just look forward to the next day with him now,” said Mullins.
“He’ll probably go to Punchestown.”
There was some compensation for the Irish champion trainer as the incredible Quevega recorded her fourth successive victory in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle.
She too is likely to be Punchestown-bound.
“Quevega is a fantastic mare and was very good again yesterday. Hopefully we can keep her going for next year,” Mullins added.
“She’ll go to Punchestown and we’ll do what we’ve done for the last few years and enter her in the two-mile race and the three-mile race. We’ll see which way we go nearer the time.”
Meanwhile reigning champion Long Run and the resurgent Kauto Star are once again set to go head to head in tomorrow’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, the feature event on the final day of the Festival.
The Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run had Kauto Star a long way back in third in the blue riband last term, but Paul Nicholls’ stable star had undergone a renaissance this season.
The 12-year-old comprehensively beat Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November before landing a record-breaking fifth King George success at Kempton on Boxing Day, with Long Run trailing him home again.
Kauto Star has endured further drama over the last fortnight, though, with the popular veteran recovering from a schooling fall to take his place in the 15-strong line-up.
Henderson has a powerful second-string to his bow in Burton Port, who recently made a fine comeback from a long-term injury when chasing home Long Run in the Denman Chase.
