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Irish National Hunt Festival 2009 |
Mullins’ Big Guns Primed for Punchestown Festival Assault
22/04/09
Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins has a formidable team primed for next week’s Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown, with three of his hugely-impressive Cheltenham Festival winners, Mikael D’Haguenet, Cooldine and Quevega, all set to make their eagerly-awaited comebacks.
Mikael D’Haguenet was a brilliant winner of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, while Cooldine oozed class in securing the RSA Chase and Quevega was arguably most impressive of all when sweeping away her rivals in the Grade Two David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.
Speaking at last night’s event in the Guinness Storehouse held to celebrate the 50th running of the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and launch the Punchestown Festival, Mullins revealed: “We are looking to run the three Cheltenham Festival winners at Punchestown. We have had lots of rain and while the weather is a bit drier now, I am hoping it will break again before Punchestown.
“I have not made any firm decisions yet about Mikael D’Haguenet or as to which races any of my horses will be running in. I will be confirming them in their races and then wait and see what the weather does and how the horses are. It is far too early for me to make a definite plan just yet.”
Mikael D’Haguenet holds entries in Tuesday’s €100,000 Grade One Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (4.20pm) over two miles, the two-and-a-half-mile €90,000 Land Rover Champion Hurdle (6.05pm) on Thursday and the €200,000 Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle (5.30pm) over three miles the following day.
Mullins had considered pitching Cooldine in amongst more experienced rivals in the €275,000 Grade One Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup (6.05pm, Wednesday) over three miles and a furlong. While not entirely ruling out that option, he could keep Violet O’Leary’s seven-year-old to novice company over the same trip.
Meanwhile, Quevega, so impressive when winning over two and a half miles at Cheltenham in March could have her speed tested as Mullins looks at a drop in trip.
He added: “Cooldine will probably go for the Boylesports.com Champion Novice Chase (6.40pm, Tuesday, €90,000) rather than the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup. That is the way I’m thinking at the minute but it could change.
“Quevega has the option of the two-mile Rabobank Champion Hurdle (5.30pm, Friday, €200,000) and the three-mile Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle. I will probably go for the two-mile race – bring her back in trip and see how she goes.”
Punchestown is likely to see the return of the highly-regarded Hurricane Fly, unbeaten in two starts since joining the Mullins yard off the Flat in France. The five-year-old, winner of the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November, has not raced since defeating Go Native to win the Grade One Paddy Power Future Champion Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown the following month.
Mullins continued: “Hurricane Fly has an entry in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup on the Flat but for now he will most likely go to Punchestown for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles. He seems to be okay and worked well enough this morning, so I’m happy with him.”
Hurricane Fly could be joined by Cousin Vinny, successful at the Punchestown Festival in last season’s Grade One Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race, having previously annexed the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He finished fifth to Go Native in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March but Mullins hopes he could improve on that effort.
“I am not sure if Cousin Vinny will go for the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle or the Land Rover Champion Hurdle over two and a half miles,” added the County Carlow trainer. “He travelled badly over to England last time and did not handle the meeting – that cost him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He was beaten before he went out at Cheltenham. I just hope that he comes back into form so we will see how he is.”
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Fiveforthree has returned in fine form this spring after an 11-month absence, winning at Wexford on his comeback in March before taking the runner-up berth behind Solwhit in the Grade One John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle on April 4.
The seven-year-old won the 2008 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham prior to running twice at last year’s Punchestown Festival, when third behind Jered in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, three days before finishing second to Tranquil Sea in the Grade One Land Rover Novice Hurdle.
Mullins said of the grey: “I am looking at the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle for Fiveforthree. I have no trouble in stepping him up to three miles.”
Held in the stunning Gravity room at Guinness head quarters the Punchestown event attracted an all-star cast from the racing world with leading jockeys Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Davy Russell joining trainer Nicky Henderson who had flown in especially for the occasion to show recognition for Guinness’s contribution to Punchestown and to discuss plans for his entrant Barbers Shop.
Henderson said: “Barbers Shop is still on target for the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and will run if the ground is suitable. Obviously, being such a significant running of the race, it would be especially great to win.”
Speaking on the night, Dick O’Sullivan, Punchestown General Manager, said: “Like the famous Guinness advert says – Guinness is good for you – well it is certainly good for Irish racing and in particular for Punchestown. We are thrilled to see so many representatives of Irish racing not to mention friends of Punchestown here tonight to show our appreciation to Guinness for their contribution to the Festival. Tonight’s event is also to mark the official one week countdown to our opening day on Tuesday 28th April.”
O’Sullivan continued by saying: “Three months ago I made a commitment to ensure that Punchestown would make every effort to give a lift to Ireland during these difficult times. Since then sport has played a massive role in keeping the spirits up. Ruby Walsh kick started the process at Cheltenham, then the Irish rugby team gave another boost by landing the grand slam – now it is the turn of the Punchestown Festival to keep the feelgood factor alive.”
Also in attendance on the night were trainers Dessie Hughes, Tom Taaffe, Arthur Moore, Jim Dreaper, Jessica Harrington and Ted Walsh.
Punchestown’s five-day Irish National Hunt Festival runs from Tuesday, April 28, through to Saturday, May 2.
