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Willie Mullins Open Day

Willie Mullins Open Day


By Thomas Weekes During his Press Open Day on November 2, trainer Willie Mullins put 37 of his best horses through their paces at his gallops in Closutton, Co Carlow.

Mullins mentioned “the general health of my yard has been excellent and we've our best ever team this season. Most of my horses from last season returned in excellent shape and things went very well with them over the summer.”

However, regarding '08 Cheltenham winner Fiverforthree, Mullins mentioned “he's in pre-training at the moment but has had some problems — unfortunately he is not certain he will run this season.”

Two other notable absentees from his list of exercising horses were Gagewell Flyer (recovering from a wind operation) and Tilabay (recovering from a fractured bone in his hind leg).

Apt Approach 6-y-o g
Bob Back — Imminent Approach

Likely to be sent novice chasing as he jumps spectacularly well. He could be anything over fences — his pedigree is all stamina and he should handle soft ground.

Arbor Supreme 7-y-o g
Supreme Leader — Peter’s Well

His jumping is improving as he matures, he is an out-an-out stayer and the plan is to aim him at the Grand National.

Ballytrim 8-y-o g
Luso — Helynsar

We'll be aiming him at the Grand National. The Troytown and Thyestes will also be on his agenda and he may have a couple of runs over hurdles too.


BARKER and David Casey 30th Apr.
© Healy Racing PhotosBarker 8-y-o g
Mister Matt - Drumrawn Lass

He has no trouble jumping at speed, on nice ground, and has improved greatly. He deserves a crack at the Champion Chase and while he stays well enough, the Ryanair Chase is another possibility.

Cadspeed 6-y-o g
Vertical Speed — Cadmina

A French-bred horse who jumps well. He has plenty of gears on heavy ground and we will be campaigning him more so in mid-winter over two miles — two and a half miles. It wouldn't surprise me if we end up going three miles with him later in the season though.

Citizen Vic 6-y-o g
Old Vic — Marianne’s Citizen

He has won a bumper and novice hurdle but looks every inch a chaser. A huge big horse, he could be good enough over less than two and a half miles. He'll stay at shorter trips for, at least, the start of the season and if his jumping matched his cruising speed, he will be a force over two and a half miles.

Cooldine 7-y-o g
Beneficial — Sheann Alainn

He'll be sent down the Gold Cup route. He won the RSA Chase last season an that is probably as good a pointer for the Gold Cup as any. He has to improve, like all the novices, to step up in class but he should progress. He jumped quite well at Cheltenham in March and has lots of stamina. The John Durkan Chase might be a race to start him off in.

Cousin Vinny 6-y-o g
Bob Back — Trixskin

He's going novice chasing. He has always jumped like a chaser and he has strengthened up well. He has a chasing pedigree and should stay well. However we will start him off as an Arkle Chase horse but I won't be disappointed if he turns out to be an RSA horse. We'll just start him off when he's ready and once we've a beginners' chase out of the way, we can start planning then.

Ebaziyan 8-y-o g
Daylami — Ebadiyla

He a bit of a quandary. He's disappointed a bit but, maybe because he's won at Cheltenham in the past, we've been expecting a bit more from him. I'll probably go novice chasing again but he may revert to hurdling if things don't work out. I'm hoping rather than expecting with him this season.

Enterprise Park 5-y-o g
Goldmark — Park Wave

The form of his bumper win has worked out well and I think he has improved since then. He'll be sent hurdling, over staying trips, and I'm not worried about ground as he's a beautiful mover and should handle all types.

Equus Maximus 9-y-o g
Flemensfirth - Sambara

He won a valuable novice handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival on his last run and will probably go handicapping chasing again next season.

Fionnegas 5-y-o g
Accordion — Tremplin

Unbeaten in three runs, he is a fine big horse and his pedigree suggests he will appreciate a trip. However, he does pull quite hard and doesn't know his own strength. He'll stay novice hurdling this season, probably over two and a half miles but longterm, he's a chaser in the making.

Glencove Marina 7-y-o g
Spectrum — Specifiedrisk

He is one of the most exciting horses we've ever had but has had an injury which has kept him out of action for a long time. He has lots of natural ability and he's a good jumper. He's back with us again now and hopefully we'll have him back on the track before Christmas — I imagine we have to try and go a Gold Cup route with him but its hard for them coming back from leg problems.

Golden Silver 7-y-o g
Mansonnien — Gold Or Silver

Ground is an issue with him, as he probably wants soft or heavy ground. He is best over two miles and, while he disappointed on faster ground at Cheltenham, I think he has a bit of class on soft ground.


RUBY WALSH on HURRICANE FLY 28th Apr.
© Healy Racing Photos Hurricane Fly 5-y-o g
Montjeu — Scandisk

He was gelded and left off for the summer. We hadn't the ideal summer conditions for him to rest but he did come back to us stronger than ever I've had him. He'll obviously be aimed at the Champion Hurdle route and I'll look at the Morgiana Hurdle with him. He's got lots of guts but he showed, at Punchestown, that he has the determination to win a race like the Champion Hurdle.

I’m Still Standing 6-y-o g
Exit To Nowhere - Tremplin

He won a bumper for Michael O'Brien in December '07 before moving to France. He is still a big backward type and while he will probably go hurdling, he could easily be sent chasing too.