+ Log in to read full article
Get the latest from the leading trainer

Willie Mullins column: Recent reflections including Quai De Bourbon and Nick Rockett


Our star columnist reflects on some of his star performers including Quai De Bourbon who looks bound for the Cheltenham Festival.


Recent winners

It was a great day at our local track on Thursday, winning the Thyestes Chase. It’s a day that always brings out a big crowd and is a real good day’s racing and a great atmosphere.

We were lucky enough that Nick Rockett got away to a good start in what was a messy one for two of our runners, who were put out of it almost straight away.

Then in the beginners’ chase Paul was shown to great effect winning on Quai De Bourbon over two-and-a-half miles. He looks to be a horse who could go right up in trip and I think he’s one for the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham.

Chapeau Du Soleil was second and ran a cracker, I hope it won’t be long before he gets a win to his name while Blizzard Of Oz in third looks like he could go back in trip to win. He showed a fair bit of speed around the third last to take up the running but was just outstayed.

Ocastle Des Mottes in fifth is another who ran a cracker. He made a huge mistake at the fifth last and did well to be in the leading bunch three out. He got tired from there and is another given a clear round who won’t be long before rewarding his owners.

We were very pleased that Appreciate It came back to win the Horse And Jockey Hotel Chase. He was very good. We were worried about the ground but he’s an 11-year-old and very hard to place so we let him take his chance and were pleasantly surprised how well he acted on the surface. That opens a lot of doors for him in the spring.

We had a good week in the north of England with Jarrive De Mee winning in Catterick and Chart Topper in Wetherby – both for Patrick. It’s nice to keep the flag flying on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Lossiemouth didn’t travel over to Cheltenham, we decided with the storm and potential traffic complications and were very happy to go to Leopardstown instead in our preparation for March.

All our Dublin Racing Festival runners are in good shape and on course for the meeting. Fingers crossed it stays that way.


More from Sporting Life

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.

To continue reading this article...

Join Sporting Life Plus and get access to premium articles, expert tips and special features.

Join for FreeLog in
Sporting Life Plus Logo

Next Off

14 Runners, 1m 2f 151y
Going: Standard
Surface: Turf
6
(6)
Horse silk
J: M Goetz
T: B Goetz
4
(4)
Horse silk
J: Mlle Thais Peltier
T: Y Henry
3
(3)
Horse silk
J: M Vaudoit
T: Nils Pacha
Follow & Track
Image of a horse race faded in a gold gradientYour favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My Stable
Log in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefits

Most Followed

Horse silk

Balgowan

F: 853/6-22

T: J W Mullins

Horse silk

Un Sens A La Vie

F: 3-1

T: N A Twiston-Davies

Horse silk

Camulus

F: 36/24-31

T: Miss V Williams

Horse silk

John Barbour

F: 314

T: F O'Brien

Horse silk

Sacre Coeur

F: 212P42

T: D Skelton