Champagne four-timer for all-conquering Mullins
Indeed, this was a meeting Mullins won’t forget in a hurry. He didn’t have a runner in the opening contest, but then went on to win all four other races.
The champion trainer saddled the first three in the Daily Mirror Hurdle, all owned by Rich Ricci, and this was the first time, at least that was the trainer’s thinking, he’s managed such a feat in a Grade 1.
Marasonnien, ridden by Paul Townend, beat Vesper Bell and David Casey, with Sous Les Cieux (Ruby Walsh) in third.
They went a sensible gallop, on the dreadful ground, and there were many with chances entering the final half mile.
It was soon apparent, however, that Marasonnien was tanking and Townend eased him ahead coming away from the second last.
After that it was just a case of keeping him up to his work to score by a comfortable three lengths.
Commented Mullins: “He’s not the prettiest horse in the world, but we bought him in France with the same form as Mikael D’Haguenet and from the same trainer.
“Ruby said Sous Les Cieux didn’t stay, but the other two stay forever. All three of them should make chasers.”
Said Townend: “It was a slog, but he came out on the best side of it. He’s a fine horse with size and scope and should have a good future.”
Mullins also took the other Grade 1, the betchronicle.com Champion Bumper, with Cheltenham hero, Champagne Fever.
He too carried the Ricci colours and put up a superb display of front-running to leave his rivals literally gasping.
Patrick Mullins was in the plate and, considering the surface, went a fierce gallop. They were the ideal tactics and reaped a decent dividend.
English challenger, Melodic Rendezvous, looked a big danger for much of the straight, but the winner kept finding and powered clear inside the furlong pole to score going away by seven and a half lengths.
“That was an extraordinary performance, he’s a super horse”, said Mullins senior, not given to making silly statements.
“Patrick said he was idling in front, he gallops all day and seems to have huge reserves of stamina.
“I don’t know what I will do now. I could do a Florida Pearl and send him straight over fences, he’s a great jumper, but I just don’t know.”
Mullins’ Loch Ard was all the rage in the market for the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle and obliged with a whopping 33 lengths success.
He travelled and jumped like a dream through the contest and Ruby Walsh waited until into the straight before making his move.
Loch Ard responded generously when asked, eased to the front going to the final flight and was all of six lengths clear of a fading Wrekin Rock when that one departed at the obstacle.
Mullins, who backed the decision to race, prior to the winners starting to flow, said: “He loves that ground, it was perfect. I will try and find another race for him, he could go to Auteuil for a four-year-old hurdle.”
Mullins rounded off the night by taking the At The Races Bumper with Flash Of Genius, who hadn’t been seen since taking a point-to-point on the track in February 2010.
He outclassed the opposition, coasting clear in the straight for Patrick Mullins to win by 24 lengths.
Mullins senior reported: “That was a nice surprise. He’s had his training problems and I’ve been going easy with him and didn’t know what to expect. He could pitch up next in a Curragh bumper.”
David Pipe’s Weekend Millionair made a brave attempt from the front in the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle, but in the end had no answer to the Stephen Nolan-trained Shamiran.
Ian McCarthy partnered the winner and brought him with a sustained challenge to lead going to the last and score by a hard-earned two and three quarter lengths.
Nolan, who is based at Kilcock, Co Kildare, said: “He’s a good tough horse, who stays well and loves that ground. This was only his third run of the season and he will keep going. It’s a bit away, but the Galway festival is the plan.”
* The attendance was 11,517, down, hardly surprisingly, from 17,261 last year.
