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Love Me Tender makes big impression on hurdling bow

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Wed 23 Sep 2026

Willie Mullins’ Love Me Tender, last seen when a beaten favourite in the Ebor, made a hugely impressive hurdling debut at Listowel.

Not to be confused with his French-bred stablemate of the same name, owned by JP McManus and a Grade Three winner already, this Love Me Tender was bred in Germany and made his debut for Mullins at York in the colours of Ethical Diamond.

Bounced out by Paul Townend in the McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle, the four-year-old had the equine Tyson Fury for company until the turn for home when he was asked for an effort and gave an immediate response.

The 4-9 favourite sprinted 20 lengths clear and in trying to go with the eventual winner Tyson Fury faded in the straight into fourth. Approval was second with Bud Fox third.

“It was a nice performance, he was very keen,” said Mullins.

“I feel sorry for the second there because our fella should have won his hurdle before this, but we didn’t get an opportunity to run him over hurdles.

“He looks better than what you should be meeting down here. It was unfortunate that we didn’t get a run into him and we saw what happened then in the Ebor, he ran too free.

“He was a little bit of that today as well, but he’ll learn. I think the hurdles will help him to steady up and teach him a bit more about settling and racing properly.

“I’ll see where I go, he has some nice Flat entries and there are novice hurdles too. I hate missing their novice hurdle year.”

When asked if he was a two-miler over hurdles he added: “He would look it, on that evidence.

“I think he’d have no bother staying, but he likes to get on with the job so he’ll take a lot of settling over a longer trip and I don’t think he needs to do that for the time being.

“We can go out in trip on the Flat, the only thing over a longer trip he’s going to be harder to ride and harder to settle in a race.

“I think a few spins over hurdles will settle him.”

Love Me Tender was given a 20-1 quote for both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Turners at Cheltenham in March by Betway.

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