Willie Mullins: An update on some of my stable stars

Willie Mullins is pinning his Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes on Galopin Des Champs – with no worries about the stamina-sapping trip at Prestbury Park.

Although a Grade One winner over three miles when competing over hurdles, the scopey six-year-old was kept to intermediate distances in his novice chasing campaign, winning his first two fences starts by a combined 31 lengths before falling at the last when set to record an emphatic victory in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He erased the demons of that heartbreaking tumble when securing his second Grade One with an 18-length success in the BoyleSports Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse and is now set to be trained with the Festival blue riband in mind as he looks to add to the Martin Pipe victory he secured in 2020.

“I hope he’s our Gold Cup horse for the year and he looks the part, he is doing everything right at home,” said Mullins.

“He had one little setback a couple of weeks ago, but he’s back doing everything right again now and that’s just horses they all have setbacks.”

Galopin Des Champs could kick off his campaign at Punchestown in the John Durkan, while his season could also involve following in the footsteps of Closutton’s two-time Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo and competing at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

He continued: “I would like to start him off in the John Durkan, but it’s December 11 this year which is quite near Christmas. I know we all worry about the ground at Leopardstown, but he has run round Leopardstown twice I think and has been fine.

“He’s a nice big horse, I know he doesn’t look it, but that is what I like about horses, I like horses who are tall because it means they are well proportioned and he’s light on his feet.

“I would like to get a run into him early in December then go to Leopardstown at Christmas or Tramore on New Year’s Day.”

On possible concerns about the three-and-a-quarter mile test of the Gold Cup, he added: “I have never had a worry about the trip, I would be worried about Allaho getting it, but Galopin I’ve never worried about that with him, the further he goes the better sort of thing.”

Mullins is refusing to rule out a Champion Hurdle bid with two-time Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Gerhard.

The 2021 Champion Bumper stretched out to two miles and five furlongs to claim the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park this year and it was thought that the point-to-point winner’s future would lie over the larger obstacles.

However, Mullins has confessed views in the Closutton camp are split over which direction the son of Jeremy should head this season, and a novice chasing campaign is far from certain.

He said: “I’ve got to have a good chat with the owners – when he won his maiden hurdle, he shaped like a Champion Hurdle horse, and he’s won a point-to-point, so he can go novice chasing.

“I was a little disappointed with a couple of his runs over hurdles, where he missed out hurdles and, at the start of the season I thought I would go novice chasing with him, but the more I look at the hurdles picture, I’m tempted to stay over hurdles with him.

“I have got to chat with Mrs Thompson and Chris Richardson, the whole Cheveley Park team, and see what their views are.

“There are pros and cons and my team at home are split on it as well. Obviously, he could go novice chasing then come back over hurdles, but I definitely haven’t ruled him out of a Champion Hurdle bid – we will see.”

If Sir Gerhard does remain over timber, then his Closutton Arkle vacancy could be filled by Appreciate It.

The eight-year-old was an emphatic 24-length winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2021, but ran only once the following season, when comprehensively beaten in the Champion Hurdle.

However, the time has now come for him to tackle the larger obstacles and Mullins is in no doubt that he has all the attributes to add to his Festival tally in March.

He continued: “He had a small problem and we decided not to go for the rest of the season, because when you have a novice, you want to go for a full season, not a half season.

“With the sort of speed he showed over hurdles, we would have no problem going down the Arkle route. It doesn’t matter to me whether we start off at two or two-and-a-half (miles), we’ll just wait for him and the right race to come along.

“I would imagine we would be aiming towards the Arkle, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he went out to two-and-a-half miles, and I have no doubt he would have no problem at three miles.

“But he is very sharp at the shorter trip and if he can jump fences the way he jumps hurdles, I could see him being an Arkle horse.”

Mullins has revealed last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winner The Nice Guy is set to be out for the season.

The unbeaten seven-year-old was ultra-impressive in his novice hurdle season, winning at the Cheltenham Festival on just his second start over timber.

He pulled five lengths clear of Minella Cocooner to score at Prestbury Park and confirmed that form when holding off the same rival to add a second Grade One at the Punchestown Festival.

The son of Fame And Glory was set to embark on a staying novice chase campaign, with connections hoping he would continue to flourish over the larger obstacles.

However, there has been disappointing news from the Closutton camp with the Malcolm Denmark-owned gelding meeting with a setback that will put him on the sidelines.

“Unfortunately, The Nice Guy is out for the season,” said Mullins.

“He has a problem behind, and it will take a few months to come right. It is a big disappointment to Malcolm Denmark and myself that The Nice Guy is out, but I don’t think he owes us anything so if he has to take the season off so be it.”

Mullins is full of praise for the impact of Gigginstown House Stud on the sport in Ireland, as the two powerhouses get set to reunite this season.

The Closutton handler has enjoyed plenty of success for Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary’s racing operation in the past, with notable victories including Don Poli’s 2015 RSA Novices’ Chase win at the Cheltenham Festival and Sir Des Champs’ Jewson Novices’ Chase success at Prestbury Park in 2012.

However, in September 2016 it was announced Mullins would no longer be training for the prominent owners, leading to the loss of around 60 horses from his yard, with a statement released at the time mentioning increased fees as the reason for the split.

Now after a six-year hiatus the famous maroon silks will appear next to Mullins’ name on a racecard once again and he is delighted to welcome the Gigginstown horses back to his County Carlow base.

“No one fell out and I always remained very friendly with Eddie and Michael and the family,” said Mullins.

“Someone mooted I should have a few horses back and I said no problem. There was no great meeting or anything, it was very simple.

“It’s great to have them back and they are a huge team in Irish racing. They are good for Irish racing with all the money they put through the system in terms of sponsorship and buying horses from the point-to-point field. The amount of value Gigginstown give to Irish racing is immense and they have shown that over the years.

“They aren’t afraid to put their money where their mouth is and that is a great asset to have as an owner and we are delighted to be back together as a team.”