Willie Mullins likely to dominate in Clonmel
WILLIE WEDNESDAY: Trainer Willie Mullins is likely to dominate Clonmel on Wednesday. Photo: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Willie Mullins has a chance to dominate the middle of Wednesday afternoon’s card in Clonmel, with Bunting, Karma d’Airy and Funiculi Funicula all likely winners on the seven-race programme.
The toughest of the three races is the Munster Hurdle but it is difficult to look beyond Bunting, one of two runners for Mullins, and the mount of Paul Townend.
Winner of a Flat race on his only start in France, he made the perfect start over hurdles in Ireland and followed up with a fine fourth in a Grade One at the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival.
He was quite well beaten in the Triumph Hurdle and at the Punchestown festival and also put in his place on his first Flat run for current connections but remains an unexposed and exciting sort in this sphere.
There is room for improvement in his jumping, but he is just five and entitled to improve in that department. He looks to have a class edge over his rivals and can make it count.
Stablemate Got Glory has similar potential but the lightly raced seven-year-old mare has jumping issues and must bounce back from a fall in a hurdle on her most recent outing.
Beckett Rock was well beaten on his return to action, last month at Punchestown, but he was most impressive on his only previous start and remains full of potential. He can give the selection most to think about.
Karma d’Airy makes her debut for Mullins in the Kilsheelan Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and if she can build upon the promise of her runner-up finish on her second start in France, she ought to take a great deal of beating in a winnable race.
Beautiful Chaos, a maiden winner on the level, has run well on both outings to date over hurdles and holds place claims, as does Kilbarry Ce Ce, who finished runner-up to the selection’s stablemate, More Coko, on New Year’s Day.
Mullins’ treble can come up courtesy of stable debutant Funiculi Funicula, who contests the Monroe Maiden Hurdle. The five-year-old Storm The Stars gelding was runner-up in a hurdle on his only start in France, and that form reads particularly well in the context of this afternoon’s contest.
He has come in for positive mention from his trainer and won’t have to be a star to make a breakthrough on his Irish debut.
Outside the Mullins stable, the Charles O’Brien-trained No Big Deal makes appeal in the Lisronagh Handicap Hurdle, in which My Good Pal is worth noting in the market following a promising first start for Gavin Cromwell.
12:25 Hillsdale
12:55 Magic Sadler
1:30 Bunting (nap)
2:00 Karma d’Airy
2:30 Funiculi Funicula (nb)
3:05 No Big Deal
3:40 Doyen For A Drink
12:25 Cheerful Chap
12:55 Lonesome Boatman
1:30 Got Glory
2:00 Beautiful Chaos
2:30 Adragoole
3:05 My Good Pal
3:40 Bossofthebus.
