Mullins fears horses could be ‘nobbled’
Ireland’s champion trainer boasts an enviable Cheltenham team and admits to being “paranoid” his stars could be got at.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Mullins said. “We have some very fancied horses and it would make a lot of money for someone if they were going to Cheltenham and they could alter the course of events. So we would be very aware and keep people away. Everyone should be vigilant — especially if you have a fancied horse. You’ve got to be.
“If you wanted to nobble someone who would you nobble? Nobble us. I suppose you look at what might harm you and the one I had to look out for was the sedative. That was the one that was going to harm me.
“It’s healthy in my position to be paranoid and let that run down to your staff. They might be laughing at me — thinking that I’m going back 40 years — but these things go on. I feel this every year. From the time my father (Paddy) had one or two good horses going to Cheltenham we would ramp up the security at home and try our best to keep an eye on the horses when travelling. We’re no different now.”
Mullins revealed that when his horses disappoint, his suspicions grow.
“You think: ‘What happened there?’ I’m always saying this to my son and staff and they think I’m loony. They think this doesn’t happen in 2014. But we’ve always got to be vigilant.”
Mullins says this year’s Festival will be remembered as “the year of the cloud” due to Philip Fenton case.
Last month, Fenton, trainer of Gold Cup hopeful Last Instalment, was charged with possessing anabolic steroids but the court case was adjourned until after Cheltenham.
The County Carlow handler feels the controversy is damaging for racing and praised the decision of owner Barry Connell to withdraw The Tullow Tank, trained by Fenton, from the Festival.
“Lots of people have missed the fact that it has put a cloud over our game in the biggest festival of the year. That’s what it will be known as — the year of the cloud,” Mullins told The Guardian. “People in racing are in a bubble. We don’t look out. But if this was another sport we would say ‘Yeah, they’re all at it.’ We don’t realise that people will be saying the same about us. There are so many other sports and things people can put their money into. So we have to mind our game.”
Mullins feels Connell’s decision to withdraw The Tullow Tank, a leading fancy for the Neptune, is an example of an owner seeing the “bigger picture”.
“It was a huge call. I know how passionate Barry is about racing and Cheltenham. It looked as if he had a real winning chance and it was very brave. In Ireland we have a viewpoint that a man is innocent until proven guilty and I’d agree with that. But Barry sees the bigger picture.
“He doesn’t want to be standing in the parade ring with people inquiring about whether it’s right to be there or not.”
Despite his fears over doping, Mullins is keenly aware of how lucky he is to be doing a job he loves.
“It’s great to have work you love,” Mullins said. “I watch the news at night and see factories being closed and another 100 jobs have gone.
“I think how I would feel if I woke up in the morning and couldn’t come into the yard to work? How must those people feel? It’s only when you put yourself in their position that you realise you have a fantastic way of life and get paid for it.”
