WillowWarm Gold Cup Chase |
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| Grade 1, Fairyhouse 14:22 €100,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1  |
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1 Spindleberry 3/1
2
Firefox 6/1
3 Champ Kiely 7/4F
6 ran Distances: 4½l, 6l, 28l
Time: 5m 13.40s (slow by 22.40s)
The Willie Mullins trained Spindleberry is too good for rivals in an action packed WillowWarm Gold Cup with Danny Mullins doing the steering! 🏆@WillieMullinsNH | @dan2231 pic.twitter.com/idRtSkcWeS
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) April 20, 2025
It was Spindleberry who stole the show, keeping her perfect record over fences intact and handing Willie Mullins a record sixth win in the race – but it was anything but straightforward for the Closutton powerhouse.
Three runners went to post for Mullins, but that plan unraveled quickly as Ile Atlantique got in tight to the third and unshipped Patrick Mullins in unceremonious fashion. One down, and suddenly the race dynamic shifted.
Champ Kiely, the 7-4 favourite, found himself in front earlier than planned and Paul Townend took the opportunity to stretch them out, quickly establishing a decent lead. Spindleberry and Danny Mullins tracked smartly, keeping the leader in their sights without getting into a battle too soon.
Turning in, Champ Kiely still held sway – but the signs were there. Spindleberry was cruising and, as they lined up for the last, she swept past with ears pricked and momentum firmly on her side. One clean jump and she was away, pulling clear on the run-in to win by four and a half lengths with plenty in the tank.
Firefox rallied late for Gordon Elliott, pinching second from the fading Champ Kiely, denying Mullins a one-two but not the trophy.
“She loves it here, and Danny gave her a beautiful ride,” Mullins said afterwards. “She’s a really nice mare going forward. Whether it’s Punchestown next or a break, we’ll see, but I’d say she’ll stay three miles no problem next season.”
As for Champ Kiely, who ended up third and beaten ten and a half lengths, Mullins was left wondering what might’ve been: “He had to deal with the loose horse after Ile Atlantique came down – maybe that just took his focus off the job.”
On a day when the headlines were meant to be about the favourite, it was the mare in receipt of 7lb who kept things tidy, kept things smooth – and kept the family name on the trophy.
WillowWarm Gold Cup Chase
Grade 1 €100,000 added,
5yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft to Heavy
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Spindleberry 7 11-3 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 3/1
2 4½ Firefox 7 11-10 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 6/1
3 6 Champ Kiely 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 7/4F
4 28 Down Memory Lane 7 11-10 Gordon Elliott Mark Walsh 11/1
5 23 Kilbarry Saint 6 11-3 C O'Keeffe Darragh O'Keeffe 40/1
UR Ile Atlantique 7 11-10 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 11/4
