Mullins plans to keep resurgent El Fabiolo over hurdles 'for the foreseeable'
STREAKING CLEAR: El Fabiolo and Danny Mullins win for trainer Willie Mullins. Pic: Healy Racing
A three-time Grade 1 winner over fences, returning after a 246-day absence and back over hurdles, El Fabiolo made all to land the New Year’s Eve feature in Punchestown, the Make The Tote App Your New Year’s Resolution NYE Hurdle.
Highlight of a double for champion trainer Willie Mullins, he was also the second leg of a double for Danny Mullins, deputising for Paul Townend, who had sustained rib injuries in the opening beginners chase.
El Fabiolo went off 6/4 favourite and jumped exuberantly, with the exception of the two flights in the back straight on the final circuit, and stayed on strongly to beat Glen Kiln by eight and a half lengths, with Spillane’s Tower, strong in the market, staying on for third.
“That was a lovely performance,” stated Mullins, “It’s nice to see him back in winning form. He travelled and jumped well. He fiddled a couple down the back but came up well when Danny needed him over the last few.
"He’ll probably stay over hurdles for the foreseeable – there are plenty of graded races for him. And the Aintree Hurdle might be a long-term target, although he could go for an Irish Champion Hurdle.”
The meeting opened with drama in the Celebrating 175 Years At Punchestown Beginners Chase when long-time leader Ballygunner Castle (Paul Townend) fell four from home, bringing down favourite Slade Steel.
Initiating his double, Danny Mullins, on Ballygunner Castle’s stable-companion Argento Boy picked up the pieces on the grey who stayed on to beat Pray Tell.
“He was running well the last day when he slipped up and is a solid horse in his own right,” said Willie Mullins. “He encountered a bit of trouble along the way but jumped better today. That trip suits him, but he still looked green and we might try cheekpieces again on him – he wore them over hurdles."
The Tote’s Cheers To 2026 Handicap Hurdle provided even more drama as Henry de Bromhead’s Sommesky, in front with the race apparently at his mercy, crashed at the final flight, leaving Linder Arden, with Brian Hayes in the familiar Bowe colours, to beat favourite San Hilario and A Dream To Share.
“We had a bit of luck, but it’s great that he’s won again here (his third success at Punchestown),” said winning trainer Harry Kelly. “He runs well fresh and likes a bit of nice ground. Tough tracks don’t suit him and we’ll avoid winter ground.”
Gordon Elliott saddled his 19th winner of the Christmas period when Immediate Effect, successful twice for previous handler Mark Prescott, made a successful stable and hurdle debut under Danny Gilligan in the Celebrate The New Year With Tote 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle, proving too strong for Minella Boss and eye-catcher Saratoga.
“He was value when we bought him in Newmarket,” said Elliott. “He was rated near 90 on the flat and is a nice horse. He jumps well and we’ll tip away – we’ll look for a winners’ race for him somewhere. He’s not a bad horse.”
The Tom Gibney-trained Sammy Smart (James Smith) proved a poignant winner of the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase, pipping Three In A Row by a short-head.
“You can’ t beat a bit of divine intervention," explained Gibney. "We buried Emlyn Melarkey’s father a couple of days ago and he owned half this horse.”
The combination of local trainer Sonny Carey and talented 7lb claimer Michael Kenneally, successful with The Nagger Reidy in Leopardstown, struck again when Lilannbee made all to take the mares' bumper, holding off Luciole Des Bordes and earning a crack at the Grade Two mares' event at the DRF at Leopardstown in February.
