Ballyburn makes Mullins most successful Irish trainer ever
MOST SUCCESSFUL IRISH TRAINER: Willie Mullins celebrates with Ballyburn, his 4378 win, breaking the record held by Dermot Weld for the most wins in Irish racing. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
It hasn’t quite been the week of utter domination we anticipated for Willie Mullins but when that most reliable of conveyances, classy champion hurdler State Man, took the Grade One Boodles Champion Hurdle, Mullins joined Dermot Weld as the most successful trainer in the history of Irish racing. Thirty-five minutes later, 4,377 became 4,378 as Mullins took sole occupancy of the position with Ballyburn’s victory in the Grade One Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.
“It's tremendous to break Dermot Weld's record,” said Mullins. “Dermot is a super trainer, and broke lots of records. I’ll never do what he did. He pioneered going down to Australia, won the first Melbourne Cup (by a northern hemisphere trainer), and he won the Belmont Stakes, an American Triple Crown race. Anytime you can do something that Dermot did … I'm in very privileged company.
“I imagine someone else will come and break those records, with new fixtures every year. Numbers and records are there to be broken and it's just great to be here in this position.” State Man, as is his wont, made little fuss of the task at hand in the Champion as he moved upsides Irish Point before the last flight, jumped to the front, and galloped on strongly to win by a couple of lengths.
“He’s a star, isn’t he?” said winning rider Paul Townend. “It’s so simple to ride this lad, and that’s probably why I have such a soft spot for him. You could leave the weighroom, get to the start, make it up as you go along, and he’d get you out of trouble.
“He isn’t flashy. He does what he has to do and, probably, that’s why he keeps winning – because he keeps a bit in the locker. He’s just a very good horse.”
There were shades of Impaire Et Passe winning the same race last season when Ballyburn, arguably the most impressive novice hurdler of this season, won the Grade One Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle in workmanlike fashion. With customary low head carriage, he made life a little difficult for Townend, but his class came to the fore in the closing stages as he strained every muscle to pull clear of Jetara.
“A few of ours ran a bit flat earlier in the day and we were wondering would this fella do the same, but he didn’t,” said Mullins. “Good horses just dig deep, and they do it.
“Once he learns to settle a bit more and use his power at the end of the race, I think he’s going to a super horse. I was just chatting to his point-to-point rider, and he said he's a fabulous jumper of a fence, so we have all that to put into the mix and see what direction we go in the future.” Another trainer who has had a fabulous season is Gavin Cromwell, and he cut a particularly pleased figure after Brides Hill took the Grade Two Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares’ Chase under Sean Flanagan. She provided further representation of just how good the team has been all term, and how strongly they are finishing out the season.
“She was very good,” said Cromwell. “I was afraid the ground was gone for her, to be honest, but she was foot-perfect. She has had issues with her jumping in the past, but she’s very good now.
“Keith (Donoghue) has done an awful lot of schooling with her and it’s unfortunate he can’t be on her, but Sean does a lot of work with these horses too and it’s nice to see him getting a day. “ Reflecting on his best season to date, he added: “It’s been brilliant. All the horses are running great and that was our 70th jumps winner for the season. Sixty-two was my best, and that was the target, so it’s been brilliant.” Its On The Line takes strong handling and Derek O’Connor needed to be at his most persuasive to get his mount home in front in the Event Power Champion Hunters’ Chase. Emmet Mullins’ horse, runner-up at Cheltenham and a winner at Aintree, picked off Lifetime Ambition very late on to give Emmet Mullins his first winner of this meeting.
O’Connor doubled up when guiding Don’tstopthemusic to victory in the finale, the Howden Insurance Brokers Bumper. Representing Martin Brassil and Sean Mulryan, the Kayf Tara gelding quickened up sharply from the last bend to post a performance which suggests he could be another smart sort for the connections of Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow.
Oakley Brown produced William Durkan’s Eagle Fang with a well-timed run to take the Uniquely Novice Hurdle, while the heavily backed Private Ryan landed the Bishopscourt Cup for trainer Sean Doyle and jockey Jamie Scallan.
Barry Connell sent a select team to the meeting and after placed efforts from his two previous runners, he got off the mark when Hgranca De Thaix, ridden by Michael O’Sullivan, asserted close home to win the listed novice handicap chase.
