Brilliant 7428/1 treble for Willie Mullins at unpredictable day one of Punchestown
Danny Mullins celebrates winning The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase on Champ Kiely for trainer Willie Mullins on day one of the Punchestown Festival. Photos: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Champion trainer Willie Mullins walked away with a 7,428-1 treble on the opening day of a scorching Punchestown Festival and whilst the Closutton was expected to win two of the three races, he did so with the unpredictable horses.
At the sun drenched County Kildare track, Mullins was expected to land the first Grade One of the meeting, the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle with odds-on Cheltenham Festival winner Kopek Des Bordes, but he came fourth of the first four home for the Closutton trainer.
With recent Aintree winner Salvator Mundi going an unbelievable clip out front, he was followed closely by Paul Townend on the favourite, but he didn’t help his cause jumping poorly to his left while all the time, Mark Walsh was biding his time on eventual winning, Irancy (18/1).
The JP MacManus trained course winner came cruising off the home turn with Kopek Des Bordes cooked, and he raced clear after jumping the last to run out a nine-length winner ahead of the game Salvator Mundi with Mullins’ other runner Karbau back in third to ensure a 1-2-3-4 home.
Commenting afterwards, the winning trainer said: “Irancy has always been a good horse and met with a setback after winning here earlier in the season, but it might have been the best thing to have happened as he came here fresh,” said Mullins.
“I gave Kopek Des Bordes a nice break after Cheltenham and probably gave him too much and should have brought him to somewhere like Ayr or Perth. Looking at him in the parade ring, I thought he was carrying too much condition and that showed.”
After blowing his chance of victory at Fairyhouse’s Easter meeting with some poor jumping, it all came good for Champ Kiely in the Grade One Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase as he led home a 1-2 for Closutton as favourite Ballyburn had to settle for second spot.
With Mullins training five of the eight runners, that was quickly to become three as RSA winner at Cheltenham, Lecky Watson fell at the fifth bringing down Aintree winner Impaire Et Passe, and three was to become two at the tenth when Ile Atlantique got rid of Patrick Mullins for the second race running.
As Paul Townend looked to be controlling things in front on Ballyburn, Danny Mullins was always biding his time on the 22/1 shot Champ Kiely, who took up the running at the second last fence before jumping the last well to run out a comfortable six-and-a-half length winner.
Speaking afterwards, Willie Mullins said: “Champ Kiely didn’t enjoy Fairyhouse, but today he was a different horse, and Danny rode him with huge confidence to follow Paul.
“He did everything right for Danny today. With all the hard luck we had in the race between fallers and a horse being brought down, it was great to see Danny getting into the picture at the third-last and I said this fella has a chance if Ballyburn doesn’t stay in front.” Of Ballyburn, he added: “He probably just didn’t jump well enough on the day and I would say there’ll be a lot of thought put into going back hurdling next season. We know he jumps hurdles fantastically and there might be a gap in the staying hurdling division for him.”
Mullins completed his hat-trick on day one when saddling the Ruth Dudfield-ridden Wonderful Everyday, to run out a comfortable winner of the Goffs Defender Bumper, when the bottom weight took the spoils at odds of 16/1.
Having the brother of Kopek Des Bordes, Leader Des Borders, who was sent off the 2/1 favourite under Patrick Mullins, he was in trouble a long way out, and rounding the home turn, the eyes were drawn to Dunfield, who was oh so confident on the filly to land the spoils by a length-and-three-quarters.
Speaking afterwards, Willie Mullins said: “This filly had been doing everything right at home but I didn’t know how good she was and Maith An Buachaill also ran well. They were both at the back passing the winning post so they ran crackers.
“It’s great when someone in the yard rides a winner at one of the big meetings and Ruth has ridden one or two winners for us before so it’s great for her. A couple of the others were disappointing, but they will make into nice bumper horses for next year.”
There was no joy for Mullins in the day one feature, the William Hill Champion Chase, as 11/10 favourite Fact To File, who was an impressive Ryanair Chase winner at Cheltenham in March, trialled in last of the four finishers under Mark Walsh in a race won by Marine Nationale.
Willie’s other runner, El Fabiolo, had struck the front when coming to grief for the third time in four races at the second last and this allowed the Champion Chaser to take full advantage for a comfortable success under Sean Flanagan.
