Mullins bags a treble but misses out on the big one at Naas 

Willie Mullins bagged a treble as Naas Racecourse on Sunday but had to settle for second place in the feature race of the day, the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott took that particular race for the fifth time in nine after an impressive display by The Yellow Clay saw him win by eight lengths ahead of the Mullins’ trained Supersundae. Last year’s Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux went off favourite ahead of the race but he ran a disappointing race concerns that Mullins expressed about his jumping before the race proved correct.

“Jasmin didn’t jump well enough, he was too keen and forward as well and this was probably just a step too far for him. Paul thought he maybe wasn’t himself but that’s the only chance we have (more schooling) and get him to jump a bit better.

“I think Patrick was very happy with Supersundae. He was very keen, which wouldn’t be great for that ground, you’d want something more relaxed. He needed the run, the winner had three runs already. Patrick thought he’d go close, he’ll be a lot closer the next day,” said Mullins.

The performances of both could mean a change of direction for both horses in the remainder of the season.

“Supersundae could go to the DRF but I wonder with Jasmin will we try and find something a little easier and try get some confidence into him,” said Mullins.

The Closutton trainer enjoyed a better day elsewhere, especially with the performance of Ile Atlantique on the way to winning the two mile Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase.

“(It pleased me) a lot,” said Mullins.

“He is just such an efficient jumper. You could see it throughout the race, he was gaining half a length at every fence. Paul was very confident, he came in and told me he just did it all himself, he just clapped his eyes on the fence, gets his legs in the right and then bang, bang he goes and meets it. Having a horse like that is a huge help to a jockey, you just sit there and let him do the work. I think all this rain and snow we had was huge for him, he probably likes that nice heavy ground over this trip. I was wondering if that was why his form tapered off at the end of last season, maybe the ground was just getting too good for him,” added Mullins.

The display puts Ile Atlantique right into the reckoning for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival but before that, it looks like he will have a heavyweight clash against stable mate Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival at the start of next month.

"It would look like the Arkle in the DRF next. That would look the one. He could go for the, I think it’s called the Ladbroke Chase now, the 2m 5f and if it came up good ground we might go for that but we have Impaire Passe for that so I would think himself and Majborough will probably go there. Majborough has looked very good but over two miles he’d probably put it up to him alright, but it would be a fair race,” said Mullins.

The day started off in style when Fun Fun Fun, a horse bred by Patrick Mullins, won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase with her breeder on her back and Mullins senior was thrilled.

“When Patrick put himself down to ride her I said she must be going better in the gallops than I thought! I think she probably loved that ground too.

“I love the way she was able to shorten up her stride going into the fences and didn’t lose too much ground and when she met one or two right she was just very good.

“Any time Patrick takes one in a professional race it’s a tip in itself!” 

There was another winner for Mullins in the Irish National Hunt Stallion Owners Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle with Joystick.

 “They were very difficult conditions out there. Being by Coastal Path, these were conditions that he’d probably like, he’s a real chasing type.

“We hadn’t anything else for this two mile race and we just thought we’d stick him and see because he was very keen the last time over two and half miles. We said we’d just let him gallop and jump and he did that, but ultimately we’d be thinking of going up in trip.

“Hopefully he’ll win another nice Novice Hurdle again this season somewhere along the line but chasing next season will be the aim,” said Mullins