Ireland's champion Jump trainer Willie Mullins today paraded
his strongest-ever Cheltenham Festival team at his Closutton Stables in County
Carlow.
Mullins
is likely to field over 40 runners over The Festival's four days (Tuesday,
March 11 to Friday, March 14), including favourites for many of the meeting's
feature events.
But,
although Hurricane Fly is on target to bid for a third Stan James Champion
Hurdle, Mullins has still to decide whether he will be joined by stablemates Annie
Power and Un De Sceaux.
"Hurricane
Fly came in very strong after a summer at grass and you don't expect a horse to
improve at his age (10)," said Mullins. "I'd like him to win again at
Cheltenham for the horse's sake, he deserves it. He missed two Cheltenhams and
then wasn't right the year he got beaten.
"This
fellow has great fight and aggression, they are the qualities that make him
stand out.
"Annie
Power is in good form and I'm just preparing her for Cheltenham like all the
other horses. It will be at the last minute when we decide who goes where. We
have to consider things like whether she's ever met a real Champion Hurdle
horse and the fact that she has done well every time we have done a longer
trip.
"She
was highly strung when with Jim Bolger but has settled down now. She seems to
have taken her travelling over to England well and I hope it hasn't taken a lot
out of her.
"We
have to look at what else is in the races and hope everything falls into place
at the last minute. At the moment, there are four or five who will be hard to
beat in the Champion Hurdle, one or two in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and one
in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.
"Un
De Sceaux looks well but going over two miles on that ground at that pace at
Gowran at the weekend could have taken a lot out of him. He's a young talent
that I don't want to abuse. He's done everything we've asked but we've found
races for him where he could show his talents without coming under pressure.
He's not run in a Grade One and Saturday's race was really only a Grade Two in
name. It could be difficult to throw him in the Champion Hurdle but we'll see
how things play out in the next three weeks. He looks like a huge talent.
"I
haven't looked at the opposition too much, I haven't really seen the English
trials - I just concentrate on getting mine there.
"The
decision on Annie Power will be very late. I'm looking at her and Un De Sceaux
as the future and Hurricane Fly is the present."
Quevega is set
to bid for an unprecedented sixth consecutive victory in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle
on Tuesday, March 11 and Mullins added: "I wasn't happy with her so gave
her a couple of days off, which I could afford to do because we have time to
spare. But I've been happy again in the last few days. She's just gone from
strength to strength and we put everything into getting her right for
Cheltenham.
"My
owners don't want to breed from her, they want to race. As a trainer I find it
as personally satisfying as anything to produce a horse to go back there year
after year. When they have ability, you mind that ability and pick the
races."
Mullins
has an outstanding bunch of novice hurdlers and he is set to field three strong
contenders in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday, March 11
while Faugheen is on course for the Neptune Investment Management
Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday, March 12.
"Vautour,
Wicklow Brave and Valseur Lido are the three for the Supreme Novices'.
Vautour's jumping is very good, which is the key to the Supreme. He's different
from last year's winner Champagne Fever, who is a lean racing machine. Vautour
is more of a strong three-mile chaser. He was not as visually impressive as he
might have been last time but Champagne Fever disappointed last year on his run
before Cheltenham. Valseur Lido is fine and I think Wicklow Brave could really
improve on the ground at Cheltenham. He definitely has the ability but his
jumping is the thing that could let him down.
"With
Faugheen we are looking at the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at
the moment. But he could run in any three of the novice races, with the amount
of ability he has. He had three runs (this season) and I didn't feel the need
to run him again. I've actually been a little disappointed with him recently
but changed his feed routine last night so hopefully that will help him. He's
fit and ready to run, he won't need a lot more work."
Mullins'
novice chase team includes Champagne Fever, who is being aimed at the Racing
Post Arkle Chase on Tuesday, March 11.
"Champagne
Fever is heading to the Arkle at the moment but I could still change my mind. I
think he'll be back on his A-game this year. To make a mistake jumping is not
like him and his style of jumping is the reason we are going for the Arkle. The
Gold Cup in the future is where we are aiming with him and Ruby (Walsh) has the
same objective. It would be nice if he was the first Weatherbys Champion Bumper
winner to win the Gold Cup.
"Ballycasey
looks a staying sort. Someone wrote that he doesn't get three miles but if you
look back there were reasons that he was beaten when trying that trip. He's
bred to be a three-mile chaser and, after his Leopardstown win, he is likely to
go for the RSA Chase (Wednesday, March 12), although he is in the four-miler.
"The
ground is the key to Felix Yonger and the JLT Novices' Chase (Thursday,
March 13) looks the target for him."
Mullins'
four-year-old hurdlers include Ivan Grozny and Gitane Du Berlais,
who were both left in the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Friday, March 14) at Tuesday's
scratchings stage.
"Ivan
Grozny is not going to be good enough with his rating for the JCB Triumph
Hurdle and possibly too good for the Fred Winter. But after his run the last
day I think we will focus more on the Fred Winter (Wednesday, March 12).
"Gitane
Du Berlais will definitely go for the Triumph although my owner would not be
worried if she didn't go to Cheltenham. She is very much next year's filly and
is a real talent that is going to improve. I love the way she is going and who
knows what could happen if she got soft ground in the Triumph."
One-time
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes Sir Des Champs and Rubi Ball are sidelined
with injury, although Arvika Ligeonniere is on course for the BetVictor
Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, March 12.
"It
was hugely disappointing to lose our Gold Cup horses and Arvika Ligeonniere is
most likely to go to the Champion Chase. We're thinking of doing one or two
things differently this year with him, just simple things."
Mullins
will be bidding for a ninth success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
(Wednesday, March 12) and added: "Black Hercules looks likely to go
for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and the same owner has Shaneshill and
we could run both. I'll have a chat with Mr (Graham) Wylie."
Reflecting
on his team, Mullins said: "This is out of this world stuff and I think
the same every day I go to the gallops. I'm not taking it for granted and we
enjoy it. But everyone has expectations as a result and I know we could go
there and not have any winners. People expect us to have winners but I know
that three out of every four bankers don't win.
"I
hope that Hurricane Fly and Quevega win, that would be huge, and then hopefully
there might be another one somewhere along the way."
Background Information
Willie
Mullins stable visit
Closutton, Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow
Synopsis -
Willie Mullins is the all-time leading Irish trainer at the Cheltenham Festival
with 29 successes and has won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at
two of the last three Festivals, with five successes last year and four in
2011. He has built up a formidable team of horses at his Co Carlow base and has
been Ireland's champion trainer for the last six seasons and eight times in
all.
Born -
September 15, 1956
Background -
Six-time amateur champion rider in Ireland, Mullins both rode and trained
Wither Or Which to win the 1996 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham
Festival.
He
hails from one of Ireland's most famous racing families, one of five children
of the late Paddy Mullins, the outstanding all-round trainer whose most famous
star was Dawn Run, winner of the 1984 Champion Hurdle and 1986 Cheltenham Gold
Cup.
He
started training in 1988, having been assistant to his father and Jim Bolger.
First
Winner as a Trainer - Silver Batchelor, M & J Gleeson INH Flat Race, Thurles,
February 18, 1988. He also rode the horse.
Cheltenham
Festival wins (29)
1995: 1 - Sky
Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Tourist Attraction)
1996: 1 -
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Wither Or Which)
1997: 1 -
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Florida Pearl)
1998: 2
- RSA Chase (Florida Pearl), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Alexander
Banquet)
2000: 1
- Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Joe Cullen)
2002: 1 - JCB
Triumph Hurdle (Scolardy)
2004: 1
- RSA Chase (Rule Supreme)
2005: 1 -
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Missed That)
2007: 1
- Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Ebaziyan)
2008: 2 -
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Fiveforthree), Weatherbys
Champion Bumper (Cousin Vinny)
2009: 3 - OLBG
Mares' Hurdle (Quevega), Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Mikael
D'Haguenet), RSA Chase (Cooldine)
2010: 2
- OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Quevega), Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle
(Thousand Stars)
2011: 4 - Stan
James Champion Hurdle (Hurricane Fly), OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Quevega), Vincent
O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Final Approach), Martin Pipe Conditional
Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (Sir Des Champs)
2012: 3 - OLBG
Mares' Hurdle (Quevega), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Champagne Fever), JLT
Novices' Chase (Sir Des Champs)
2013: 5 - Sky
Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Champagne Fever), Stan James Champion Hurdle
(Hurricane Fly), OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Quevega), National Hunt Chase (Back In
Focus), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Briar Hill)
Winner
of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival: 2011,
2013
Potential
Weatherbys Champion Bumper contenders
Black
Hercules (IRE)
5 b g
Heron Island (IRE) - Annalecky (IRE) (Bob's Return (IRE))
Form: -11 Owner:
Andrea & Graham Wylie Breeder: Spencer Hawkins
*Won a
Dromahane point-to-point impressively by six lengths in April, 2013.
*Made a
winning debut under Rules with a two and a half length success in a Punchestown
bumper on December 8.
*Built
on that in a competitive winners' bumper at Gowran Park on January 23, scoring
decisively by eight and a half lengths.
Race
record: Starts: 2; Wins: 2; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£12,243
Shaneshill
(IRE)
5 b g
King´s Theatre (IRE) - Darabaka (IRE) (Doyoun)
Form: -11 Owner:
Andrea & Graham Wylie Breeder: Declan Johnson
*Half-brother
to very useful Flat performer Far Cry.
*Got
off the mark at the first time of asking under Rules, beating Joshua Lane and
Wounded Warrior in a Naas bumper on November 9.
*Doubled
up at Fairyhouse on November 30, quickening smartly to win by 11 lengths.
Race
record: Starts: 2; Wins: 2; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£10,098
Royal
Caviar (IRE)
6 b g
Vinnie Roe (IRE) - Blackwater Babe (IRE) (Arctic Lord)
Form: -11d Owner:
Susannah Ricci Breeder: Kevin Fox
*Purchased
for £90,000 at the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale in April following an
eight-length victory in a Castletown-Geoghegan point-to-point earlier the same
month.
*Impressed
when scoring by six and a half lengths on bumper debut for current connections
at Fairyhouse on November 20.
*First
past the post in a Grade Two contest at Navan on December 15, but disqualified
and placed second behind Fine Rightly after causing interference.
Race
record: Starts: 2; Wins: 1; 2nd: 1; 3 rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£8,175
Novice
hurdlers
Briar
Hill (IRE)
6 b g
Shantou (USA) - Backaway (IRE) (Bob Back (USA))
Form: 11-111
Owner: Andrea & Graham Wylie Breeder: Victor Connolly
*Won an
Irish point-to-point on May 19, 2012; impressive seven-length winner of last
year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival after initial win at Thurles
on January 3.
*Made
winning debut over hurdles at Wexford in November, 2013, but only had one rival
to beat when making all in the Grade One Navan Novice Hurdle over two and a
half miles on December 15.
*Maintained
unbeaten record under Rules with a gutsy two and a half-length victory over
Apache Jack in Grade Two Slaney Novice Hurdle over the same trip at Naas on
January 5.
Jump
race record: Starts: 5; Wins: 5; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£99,609
Entries
at The Festival
Sky Bet
Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, Albert
Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Faugheen
(IRE)
6 b g
Germany (USA) - Miss Pickering (IRE) (Accordion (IRE)
Form: -1111 Owner:
Susannah Ricci Breeder: Dr John Waldron
*Won
Irish point-to-point on April 29, 2012; created big impression when running
away with a Punchestown bumper in May, 2013, beating Josses Hill by 22 lengths.
*Stepped
up to two miles and six furlongs on hurdling debut in November, 2013, also at
Punchestown, and not extended to win by six and a half lengths.
*Beat
Empire Of Dirt by four and a quarter lengths in a two and a half mile novice
hurdle at Navan on December 7, before a five-length victory in a three-mile
Grade Three contest at Limerick over Christmas.
*Unbeaten
and favourite for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.
Jump
race record: Starts: 4; Wins: 4; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£34,134
Entries
at The Festival
Sky Bet
Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, Albert
Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Vautour
(FR)
5 b g
Robin Des Champs (FR) - Gazelle De Mai (FR) (Dom Pasquini (FR))
Form: 22-111
Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: Haras De Saint Voir & Patrick
Joubert
*French
import; runner-up over hurdles at Pau and Auteuil for trainer Guillaume
Macaire.
*Beat
subsequent winner Lieutenant Colonel easily by five lengths in two-mile maiden
hurdle at Navan on debut for current connections in December, 2013.
*Had to
fight to get the better of Western Boy in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice
Hurdle at Punchestown on January 11, winning by three quarters of a length.
*Jumped
superbly when making the running to win Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle over
two and a quarter miles at Leopardstown on February 9.
*Favourite
for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Jump
race record: Starts: 5; Wins 3; 2nd: 2; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£85,421
Entries
at The Festival
Sky Bet
Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, Albert
Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
Novice
Chasers
Ballycasey
(IRE)
7 gr g
Presenting - Pink Mist (IRE) (Montelimar (USA))
Form:
1/113-11 Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: R Tanner
*Off
the course for nearly a year after winning a Leopardstown bumper in December,
2011.
*Returned
with eye-catching wins in novice hurdles at Clonmel and Thurles and was a
leading contender for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at last year's
Festival before a setback ruled him out on the morning of the race.
*Rounded
off that campaign when third to Morning Assembly in a three-mile Grade One at
the Punchestown Festival in April, 2013.
*Made
winning chase debut over two miles and a furlong at Navan on November 24, prior
to decisive four-length victory over Don Cossack in the Grade One Dr P J
Moriarty Novice Chase over two miles and five furlongs at Leopardstown on
February 9.
Jump
race record: Starts: 6; Wins: 5; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£75,820
Entries
at The Festival
Racing
Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, National Hunt Chase, RSA Chase, JLT Novices'
Chase
Champagne
Fever (IRE)
7 gr g
Stowaway - Forever Bubbles (IRE) (Roselier (FR))
Form:
2111/123113-13 Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: John Cahil
*Successful
in only Irish point-to-point on April 24, 2011. Won the Weatherbys Champion
Bumper at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and took another Grade One National Hunt
Flat race at Punchestown the following month.
*Three
from six over hurdles last season, with the highlight being a gutsy
front-running victory over My Tent Or Yours in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices'
Hurdle at The Festival.
*Always
spoken of as a chaser and made all for an easy winning debut over fences at
Punchestown over two and a half miles in November.
*Sent
off favourite for the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown over
Christmas over two miles and a furlong and finished third to Defy Logic
following a bad mistake at the penultimate fence.
*Favourite
for the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
Jump
race record: Starts: 12; Wins: 7; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 3; Win & Place Prize Money:
£230,764
Entries
at The Festival
Racing
Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, RSA Chase, JLT Novices' Chase
Djakadam
(FR)
5 b g
Saint Des Saints (FR) - Rainbow Crest (FR) (Baryshnikov (AUS)
Form:
2/U1124-11 Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: Richard Corveller
*French
import; won on two of his five starts (at Gowran and Limerick) in juvenile
hurdles last season, ending campaign with fourth in the Champion Four-Year-Old
Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.
*Got
the better of Si C'Etait Vrai in a two mile and three furlong beginners' chase
on debut over fences at Leopardstown over Christmas.
*Returned
to the Dublin track on January 25 and was the decisive four-length winner
of the Grade Two Killiney Novice Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Jump
race record: Starts: 8; Wins: 4; 2nd: 2; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£52,896
Entries
at The Festival
Racing
Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, RSA Chase, JLT Novices' Chase
Felix
Yonger (IRE)
8 b g
Oscar (IRE) - Marble Sound (IRE) (Be My Native (USA))
Form: 210/21125/11122
Owner: Andrea & Graham Wylie Breeder: J Brophy
*Raced
in Ireland initially when second in a December, 2010 Leopardstown bumper
(trained by Tony Mullins). Won a Musselburgh bumper the following month when
trained in Britain by Howard Johnson.
*Moved
to Willie Mullins and developed into high-class hurdler during the 2011/2012
season, winning a Grade Two contest at Naas and finishing the seven-length
second to Simonsig in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at The
Festival.
*Returned
from over a year off to make a successful chasing debut over two and half miles
at Punchestown in May, 2013.
*Dropped
back to about two miles and recorded decisive victories over Defy Logic in a
Grade Two at Punchestown in November and Trifolium at Navan, both of whom have
subsequently won Grade Ones.
*Beaten
when stepped back up to two and a half miles at Limerick over Christmas before
filling the runner-up spot behind Trifolium in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown
on January 26.
Jump
race record: Starts: 16; Wins: 6; 2nd: 5; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money:
£115,866
Entries
at The Festival
Racing
Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase, JLT Novices' Chase
Hurdlers
Annie
Power (IRE)
6 ch m
Shirocco (GER) - Anno Luce (Old Vic)
Form:
1111111-111 Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: Eamon Cleary
Summary
*Outstanding
unbeaten mare whose first two bumper starts in August, 2012, came when trained
by Jim Bolger for breeder Eamon Cleary.
* After
joining Willie Mullins, she won a Listowel bumper and four starts over hurdles
last season, including a Grade One at Fairyhouse on March 31.
* All
three of her starts this season have been in Britain - in the Grade Two Coral
Hurdle at Ascot on November 23, at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and in the
Grade Two OLBG.com Mares' Hurdle at Doncaster on January 25.
Race
Record: Starts: 10; Wins: 10; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 0; Prize Money: £187,868
Entries
at The Festival:
Stan
James Champion Hurdle, Ladbrokes World Hurdle
HURRICANE
FLY - DUAL STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLER - SEE FACTFILE AT THE END OF
RELEASE
Quevega
(FR)
10 b m
Robin Des Champs (FR) - Vega IV (FR) (Cap Martin (FR))
Form:
433111119/311/3911/1/111/11-
Owner: Hammer
& Trowel Syndicate Breeder: Pierre Rives
*Set to
bid for an unprecedented sixth consecutive victory in the Grade Two OLBG Mares'
Hurdle at The Festival.
*Won
three bumpers in France as three-year-old in 2007 for Bertrand de Watrigant.
* Her
first victory for Mullins came at Punchestown in February, 2008, and 13 months
later she won her first OLBG Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
*She has
made her seasonal debut in each subsequent year at The Festival, going on to
Punchestown afterwards, where she has won the last four Ladbrokes World Series
Hurdles.
Race
Record: Starts: 22; Wins: 15; 2nd: -; 3rd: 4; Win & Place Prize Money:
£669,784
Entries
at The Festival
Ladbrokes
World Hurdle, likely to be entered in OLBG Mares' Hurdle
Un De
Sceaux (FR)
6 b g
Denham Red-Hotesse De Sceaux (FR) (April Night (FR))
Form:
1/111-111 Owner: Edward O'Connell Breeder: Haras De La
Rousseliere et al
*Won
two AQPS (part-thoroughbred) bumpers in France for Fabrice Foucher in
2012 before joining Willie Mullins.
*Won
maiden hurdle at Punchestown on debut for Mullins on February 20, 2013, and
went on to win novice hurdle at Punchestown Festival.
*Easily
won his three starts this season, at Thurles on December 22, Navan on January
12 and Gowran Park on February 15. Has never been seriously tested in any of
his races.
Race
Record: Starts: 7; Wins: 7; 2nd: 0; 3rd: 0; Prize Money: £65,626
Entries
at The Festival
Stan
James Champion Hurdle
Chasers
Arvika
Ligeonniere (FR)
9 b g
Arvico - Daraka (FR) (Akarad (FR))
Form:
2/41241/111FP1-1131 Owner: Susannah Ricci Breeder: Yves
Lepage
*Progressive
chaser who excels between two and two and a half miles.
*After
one start in France, won over hurdles for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse in
January, 2010, and went on to be fourth in that year's Albert Bartlett Novices'
Hurdle at The Festival.
*Had
two years off being making a winning start over fences at Punchestown in May,
2012.
*Went
on to three Grade One successes last season, including the Ryanair Novice Chase
at the Punchestown Festival.
* He
has won on three of his four starts this season, including the Grade One John
Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 8 and most recently the Grade
Two Tied Cottage Chase at the same course on February 4.
Race
Record: Starts: 16; Wins: 9; 2nd: 2; 3rd: 1; Win & Place Prize Money:
£278,490
Entries
at The Festival
BetVictor
Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase
Dual
Stan James Champion Hurdle winner -
HURRICANE
FLY (IRE)
10 b g
Montjeu (IRE) - Scandisk (IRE) (Kenmare (FR))
Jump
Form: 11211/131/1111/1131/11111-111
Owner: George
Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd
Trainer: Willie
Mullins IRE
Breeder: Agricola
Del Parco
Jockey: Ruby
Walsh
Hurricane
Fly
Although
bred in Ireland, where he was foaled and raised at the Irish National Stud,
Hurricane Fly began his racing career in France after selling for 65,000 euros
as a yearling at Goffs to trainer Jean-Luc Pelletan. The son of Montjeu proved
a classy Flat performer - placed on three starts as a two-year-old before
stepping up a level the following year. He won on the first two outings of his
three-year-old campaign, the second of them when beating subsequent Group One
winner Literato in a Saint-Cloud Listed race and went on to finish fourth to
French Derby winner Lawman in a Group Three at Chantilly. He was last on his
final two Flat starts but had been schooled over hurdles by Pelletan since the
age of two and was bought in late 2008 by bloodstock agent Richard Hobson to
send to Willie Mullins. Hurricane Fly has been a revelation over hurdles since
winning on his debut at Punchestown in May, 2008. He went to Auteuil to win a
Grade Three Hurdle later that month and won the first of a record 19 Grade One
victories to date in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November,
2008. A 10-length success in Leopardstown's Future Champion Novice Hurdle was
followed by a seven-length victory in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
at the 2009 Punchestown Festival. After being beaten on his debut in the
2009/10 season, he had only one more start when returning from a five-month
lay-off to win the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the 2010 Punchestown Festival.
The 2010/11 season brought victories in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse
and both the Festival Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown before
he travelled over to Britain for the first time to contest the Stan James
Champion Hurdle at the 2011 Festival. He effortlessly saw off Peddlers Cross and
bowed out for the season in front of a home crowd in the Rabobank Champion
Hurdle when justifying odds-on favouritism with a five-length defeat of
stablemate Thousand Stars. He beat Oscars Well by six and a half lengths in the
2012 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown before finishing third, when sent
off 4/6 favourite, in last season's Stan James Champion Hurdle. He rounded off
the season when seeing off three rivals in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at
Punchestown. He continued his winning ways last seaon, when five from five
season. He won the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, the Istabraq
Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown in December and another Irish Champion Hurdle
in January. He took his second Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in good
style on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, becoming only the second horses to regain his
crown in the two-mile hurdling championship race - Comedy Of Errors was the
first to do this in 1975 - and went on to take the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at
the Punchestown Festival on April 26. There have been three more Grade One
successes this season, all in Ireland, the StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle back
at Punchestown in November, the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas
meeting and the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, for the fourth time, on
January 26.
Race
Record: Starts (Jump): 24; 1st: 21; 2nd: 1; 3rd: 2; Win & Place Prize
Money: £1,583,610
George
Creighton and Rose Boyd
Belfast-based
George Creighton is retired from the construction industry. Creighton's son
Andrew has been a property developer in Northern Ireland, often in partnership
with Frank Boyd, whose wife Rose is Hurricane Fly's co-owner. The Boyds are
based at the Rademon estate at Crossgar in County Down. Frank Boyd described
the 2011 Stan James Champion Hurdle success as "the best day of my
life". Rose Boyd breeds both thoroughbreds and hunters at home, where they
also stage a cross-country event, and she is joint-master of the local
Killultagh Hunt. Away from Hurricane Fly, the best horse owned by the
Creightons and Boyds has been the late C'est Ca, a useful hurdler and chaser
with Mullins.
Stan
James Champion Hurdle Wins: 2011 & 2013 HURRICANE FLY
Willie
Mullins IRE (Bagenalstown, County Carlow)
Born on
September 15, 1956, Willie Mullins was six-time amateur champion rider in
Ireland and both rode and trained Wither Or Which to win the 1996 Weatherbys
Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He hails from one of Ireland's most
famous racing families, as one of five children of late Paddy Mullins, the
outstanding all-round trainer whose most famous star was Dawn Run, winner of
the 1984 Champion Hurdle and 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Wither Or Which was one
of eight Weatherbys Champion Bumper winners trained by Willie Mullins (also
Florida Pearl 1997, Alexander Banquet 1998, Joe Cullen 2000, Missed That 2005,
Cousin Vinny 2008, Champagne Fever 2012, Briar Hill 2013). Mullins saddled Rule
Supreme to win the RSA Chase at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival and sent out the
same horse to win the Irish Hennessy in 2005. His best chaser to date has been
Florida Pearl, who was placed in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, won the 1998 RSA
Chase, the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004 Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cups in Ireland
as well as the 2001 King George VI Chase and the 2002 Betfred Bowl at Aintree.
In 2011, he trained the brilliant Hurricane Fly to win the Stan James Champion
Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and regained the hurdling crown with the same
horse in 2013. He was leading trainer with five victories at the 2013 Cheltenham
Festival, where he has been successful 29 times - the best record of any Irish
trainer ever after overtaking Tom Dreaper's 26 wins. He won The Irish
Independent Award as the top Festival trainer for the first time in 2011 with
four victories and again in 2013 with five victories. He captured the 2005
Grand National with Hedgehunter. Mullins has over 150 horses at his Closutton
yard near Bagenalstown in County Carlow and has been champion Irish jump
trainer for the past six seasons. Last season he broke the previous record of
155 winnersin a season set by Aidan O'Brien in 1995/96, ending up with 193
successes.
Stan
James Champion Hurdle Wins: 2011 & 2013 HURRICANE FLY
Ruby
Walsh
Ruby
(Rupert) Walsh used to ride regularly for the champion stables of Paul Nicholls
in Britain and Willie Mullins in Ireland, but now concentrates on the latter's
horses. He, along with A P (Tony) McCoy, leads the current generation of jump
jockeys. Born May 14, 1979, and based in County Kildare, Ireland , he is a son
of 11-times Irish amateur champion jockey, Ted Walsh, now a trainer and
television pundit. Ruby is the second of Walsh's four children and his younger
sister Katie is a successful amateur who had two wins at the 2010 Cheltenham
Festival. The other sister Jennifer acts as Ruby's agent. Ruby had his
first success under Rules aboard Siren Song at Gowran Park on July 25, 1995,
and followed in his father's footsteps when capturing the Irish amateurs'
championship at the age of 19 while still studying for his Leaving Certificate.
He was champion Irish National Hunt jockey in his first season as a
professional (1998/99) and has taken the title a further seven times
(2000/2001, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10). Walsh has
won the Grand National twice on Papillon (2000) and Hedgehunter (2005). He is
the most successful jockey of all time at the Cheltenham Festival with 38
victories and has been the leading rider at The Festival seven times (2004,
2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2013). His Cheltenham victories include the
2007 and 2009 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup with Kauto Star, three BetVictor
Queen Mother Champion Chases (2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 and 2009 Master Minded),
two Stan James Champion Hurdle (2011 & 2013 Hurricane Fly) and four
Ladbrokes World Hurdles (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Big Buck's). There are few
omissions in his list of big-race successes and he has also won five King
George VI Chases on Kauto Star. His autobiography was published in October,
2010. He is married to Gillian and the couple have two daughters, Isabelle, who
was born in October, 2009 and Elsa, born in May, 2011.
Stan
James Champion Hurdle Wins: 2011 & 2013 HURRICANE FLY
The
Festival 2014
Champion
Day, Tuesday, March 11 (Old Course)
1.30
Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade One) 2m ½f £120,000
2.05
Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade One) 2m £150,000
2.40
Festival Handicap Chase (Grade Three) 3m ½f £90,000
3.20
Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade One) 2m ½f £400,000
4.00
OLBG Mares' Hurdle Race (Grade Two) 2m 4f £85,000
4.40
Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase (Listed) 4m £85,000
5.15
Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (0-140) 2m 4½f £60,000
Ladies
Day, Wednesday, March 12 (Old Course)
1.30
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 5f £120,000
2.05
RSA Chase (Grade One) 3m ½f £150,000
2.40
Coral Cup (Grade Three Handicap Hurdle) 2m 5f £80,000
3.20
BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One) 2m £350,000
4.00
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 7f £50,000
4.40
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m ½f £75,000
5.15
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade One) 2m ½f £60,000
St
Patrick's Thursday, March 13 (New Course)
1.30
JLT Novices' Chase (Grade One) 2m 4f £120,000
2.05
Pertemps Network Final (Listed, Handicap Hurdle) 3m £80,000
2.40
Ryanair Chase (Grade One) 2m 5f £275,000
3.20
Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £275,000
4.00
Byrne Group Plate (Grade Three Handicap Chase) 2m 4f £90,000
4.40 Fulke
Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (0-145) 3m 1½f £60,000
5.15 St
Patrick's Derby 1m 5f
Gold
Cup Day, Friday, March 14 (New Course)
1.30
JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade One) 2m 1f£120,000
2.05
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three) 2m 1f £80,000
2.40
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade One) 3m £120,000
3.20
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade One) 3m 2½ f £550,000
4.00
CGA Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup 3m 2½ f £40,000
4.40
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4½ f £50,000
5.15
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup (Grade Three) 2m ½ f £90,000 
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