Willie Mullins Nov 09

[Qzy]

Leinster Leader Stable Tour: Willie Mullins

"Everything went unbelievably well last season. The horses stayed in form all year round and they stayed healthy, which was a big thing. Most of those horses have come back safe and sound and that should allow us put together a good team for the season." says Willie, who is looking forward to giving something back to racing after being appointed in his new role by HRI.

HURRICANE FLY:
"The Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last Sunday looked the best place to start. We were expecting a tough race as that's going to be the case when you're going for a Champion Hurdle.
"He was very smart on a couple of occasions last season and we are now thinking of going for the Boyleports.com International at Chelten-ham next month. He missed Cheltenham last year so it would be nice to give him a spin around there before March. We'll take it race by race with him but there's no doubt that he's the best hurdler I've ever had."

COOLDINE:
"He's in fine form and the John Durkan at Punchestown next month might be a nice place to start him off. Then we'll look at the King George with him as that's a race which might teach him to jump at a fast pace. The King George winner generally doesn't run well at Cheltenham but it could give him experience. He's completely different to my previous King George winner Florida Pearl."

MIKAEL D'HAGUENET:
"He had a little setback with splints but he's back riding now so hopefully we'll be able to get him out before Christmas. He was very good last season and the way he won the Ballymore Properties at Cheltenham does suggest that he's more of a staying novice chaser but he's got plenty of gears too. He could go for the Arkle or the RSA but we'll take one race at a time with him and then make up our minds. He ran over fences when he was trained in France so there will be no problems on that front."

BARKER:
"He could have started out in the Fortria Chase but I just wanted to give him a bit more time. He did very well last season and improved quite a lot but horses can do that sometimes. He'll stay at home for the time being but we're hoping that he could improve to be a genuine Champion Chase contender."

COUSIN VINNY:
"He's another for novice chasing this season and he's bred to stay but he has plenty of speed too. We'll try and keep him and Mikael D'Haguenet away from each other as long as possible. Patrick isn't experienced enough to ride over fences yet so Ruby, David or Paul will ride him. Hopefully, he'll be out soon enough."

Another leading light under Willie's care is the crack mare Quevega and while she is behind some of the other big names in her work, Willie is not concerned by that. "She's only come back in so she won't run until next year. We'll hope to give her a run in February and then go for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, which she won last year. I'm not too worried that she's a bit behind as it was the same case with her last season. She could be up to Champion Hurdle class but the mare's race looks made for her."

It's likely that Willie will once again dominate on the novice hurdler scene and the one he is most looking forward to is Quel Esprit, who finished best of his team in last season's Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
"He was fifth at Cheltenham and that's a race which always works out very well. He looks like a good staying novice hurdler and he already looks like one for the Ballymore Properties or Albert Bartlett. He'll be running soon."

And two dark horses Willie suggests following both come under the novice chase category in Kempes and Sportsline.

"I'm delighted with both of those and they'll be out sooner rather than later. They are two horses I'd advise following when they run." And one final horse worth a mention is Glencove Marina, a King George entry, who was 'the best novice chaser we had since Florida Pearl' two seasons ago, according to Willie.

So with every department covered by team Mullins, it appears as though another scintillating season awaits the Closutton handler. Horse Racing Ireland couldn't have picked a more suitable candidate to fulfill their first ever National Hunt Ambassador, that's for sure!