'El Cairos is very, very fast, we like him a lot' - A couple of days with Ireland's top connections

Since the beginning, established in 1979, the Lord Bagenal has seen many greats walk through the door. Celebrations long into the night were held for many a winner, whether it be a handicap hurdle in Gowran or the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National. It was still the feeling that can’t be described, and that’s what racing is all about: everyone has a chance and, as Gordon Elliott has said on many occasions this season, you just need the bounce of a ball.

As a 23-year-old racing journalist, or whatever I’m trying to describe myself as, days like these are like Christmas. The Cheltenham press evening held by the Jockey Club is something I have been lucky enough to attend the last few years, and it’s something that shines on my calendar for months in advance.

As I walked in the yard of Gordon Elliott on Tuesday morning, a horse popped his head out from one of the barns, and all I could see was the name and plaque outside the stable of Apple’s Jade, a brave warrior who danced every dance and showed that the mares could most certainly stick it to the geldings. The horse was El Cairos, who is the new kid on the block, an expensive purchase by the KTDA Keeping The Dream Alive Syndicate, who have some firepower heading towards the festival.

“He’s very, very fast, we like him a lot and he works very well,” was the quote that came from the Cullentra handler.

Stellar panel

The Jockey Club then announced the panel: Joseph O’Brien, Danny Mullins, Emmet Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, Patrick Mullins and of course Jimmy Mangan, who once again is a perfect example of how all you need is one horse to stay near the top of the sport.

The mood in Gordon’s is terrific. The horses are firing, the jockeys are riding well, and his Meath GAA lads are doing plenty of their talking on the field as they’re 2/2 in the league with victories over Meath and Cavan.

“We have a good bunch of young lads and they’re playing well, please God it can keep up.”

Walking into the Bagenal Hotel on Tuesday evening, it’s hard to know what I’ll hear. My thoughts going in were: can Envoi Allen really do it? What would it mean for Danny Mullins to ride for both his mother and father?

Does Joseph O’Brien think Talk the Talk can walk the walk? The bumper rankings in Closutton according to Patrick Mullins? What plan does Emmet Mullins have to get Its On The Line across the line in front at the festival at long last? And can Jimmy Mangan have that Cheltenham fairytale?

I had my questions prepared, and at a table beside the Racing Post’s Conor Fennelly and David Jennings, the Stars/Mirror's Brian Flanagan and the Examiner’s Darren Norris, we had the Sky and Racing TV lads in another room, while Amy Corrado from the Irish Field was set up ready for another year of her viral TikTok and X videos that show the side and stories of trainers and jockeys that we sometimes don’t always see.

It was also brilliant to have the press over from the UK, and to meet them and talk about all things racing.

Henry de Bromhead

The first man to sit into the fire pit, as mics were on and recordings had started, was Henry de Bromhead, who sat down with a smile and talked about Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger and how, even at the age of 11, the pair are rolling back the years with their enthusiasm and love for the game.

“We loose-school plenty of our horses on a Sunday morning and Bob and Envoi were in there last week - two 11-year-olds, and the spark they showed was incredible. It would put a smile on your face. They were both electric there.

“Some of the younger horses were in there plodding along, but those two would put them to shame. They love the game.”

I asked him about a horse named Heart Wood, a progressive eight-year-old who was quite emphatic when gaining an eight-and-a-half-length victory in the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore.

“He was only seven at the festival last year; we probably rode him to run well, whereas this year we can ride him a bit differently. Listening to what Darragh said the other day, it sounds like he has it in his head to now make more use of him. His form is rock-solid; I think we could go to the Ryanair.”

Henry also didn’t rule out the prospect of running him over further in future, but in what looks a Ryanair there for the taking, it could be another trip to the winners' enclosure for the team and owners Robcour.

Danny Mullins

Next to the plate, like it was almost an MLB game, was Danny Mullins, a skilful jockey who can ride in any race and has two Cheltenham Festival wins. Speaking about the Cheltenham Festival, he said" "it’s a time where you expect nothing and hope for everything".

The prospect of riding for both his mother and father at the festival is something that stands out to Mullins. "Blaze The Way may be entered in a couple of handicaps on the opening day, so we will keep our options open, in typical Mullins fashion" he said with a smile.

I asked him about a horse called Letos who is trained by his father, Tony Mullins.

"He was very good in Naas, backed it up nicely, but didn’t show up at all for the Ballymore race in Naas: “It was just too bad a run to be true; you could draw a line through it.

"Tony seems to be very happy with him. It would be great going this year. I normally ride plenty for Willie over there, but to have a few for my mother and father going over as well, it would be fantastic. Individually, we have all had our winners there, but to combine them, that would be very special indeed.”

Jimmy Mangan

Jimmy Mangan was in a pleasant mood as he took his turn and it was unusual to see him without the famous purple and yellow hat, but he assured us it will be back on the next day.

He was delighted with his star Spillane’s Tower as he returned to his best at Cheltenham last month, and Mangan was keen to show the confidence behind the horse before the Cotswolds' victory.

“We weren’t travelling over there for the scenery. Jack Kennedy gave him a great ride and he was very good, he only ever needs to win by enough. We had a great day the last day, and hopefully we can have another great day again".

He spoke at length about JP McManus and the kindness of giving someone like him, who he described as a small man, a couple of horses and how it “means everything to the yard, it gives us all a great buzz and there’s something to look forward to when you have horses like him.”

Asked about whether he feels Spillane’s Tower is at his best, Mangan was quick to assure us that he’s even better this year and that he is in great form since his most recent victory.

It was a great 10/15 minutes as he spoke about the time Monty's Pass won the Grand National and the confidence he had behind him that day, you could sit there and listen all evening.

Joseph O'Brien

Joseph O’Brien followed up after him and spoke about the potential of Talk to Talk, the experience that he needed after his fall at Leopardstown and the rest of his festival team.

“He’s an extremely exciting horse; we think the Supreme is the race he will go in. Off the back of a fall, it was important to ride him patiently (at the DRF).

"Looking at the race, we knew in the set-up that the tactics we used probably wouldn’t suit the race, but he did it well and he got us out of trouble. We were willing to ride him that way as it would benefit him in future, learning more and understanding the rhythm of the race.”

Yard legends were spoken about in depth before Racing Post journalist Conor Fennelly brought up the piece he had done previously with Home By The Lee's owner Sean O’Driscoll and how Joseph had encouraged Sean to maybe give the horse a change of scenery in order to get him back.

“My recommendation to Sean was to say that he should move him to a different stable because he needs to be rejuvenated, as there’s still plenty there, but probably in a different stable, you know, he’d have a new environment that he could get a good result from it. And Sean said, ‘Listen, you had him all the way,’ and said, ‘Do whatever you need to do to get him back.’ So, we changed his training routine and he had a good holiday and he came back.”

They managed to get him back and he looked back to his career-best in a Galmoy Hurdle victory that showed this 11-year-old still had plenty more in the tank.

“It is unbelievable for Sean to have a homebred like him that is doing so well. He has been an unbelievable horse; he is a yard favourite definitely. The year he was brought down was probably his best chance, but it’s a horse race.

"I think he is our winning-most horse ever in the yard. We have had him since he was a three-year-old. Himself and San Andreas feel like they have been around forever and it’s great to see them both running great, especially Home By The Lee.”

Joseph, a prolific trainer in both codes, has seen victories everywhere, between Australia and America, but he still ranks Cheltenham so highly.

“It’s hard to beat a winner at the Cheltenham Festival. All of those big festivals, Melbourne, Breeders’ Cup, Royal Ascot are brilliant but Cheltenham is the Olympics of the National Hunt.

"People come from far and wide, from Australia and America, to see the best horses take each other on.”

Emmet Mullins

Emmet Mullins returned from Limerick racecourse to be greeted with an opening question regarding Its On The Line, a horse who has been so good for the stable.

“It’s our fourth attempt now; he’s been second three times.”

When asked what he may need to tweak to get him in front at the festival, Emmet quickly replied with a beaming smile:

“Ohh, brain cells, I’d say. He just has his own ideas. We tried cheekpieces; I don’t think they worked. Probably in Down Royal the other day, we used more forceful tactics rather than just kidding him along.”

I asked a question about Minella Emperor, who fits the profile of a horse that is open to further improvement at a festival meeting, and with entries in both the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle and Albert Bartlett, it was the handicap that the trainer nominated.

“He’s a very nice horse, but I think he might just be a notch below that Albert Bartlett level. He’s in at Haydock on Saturday for a qualifier, so fingers crossed for that. I think he’ll be more competitive in a Pertemps than an Albert Bartlett.”

Patrick Mullins

Finally, Patrick Mullins entered the scene after a genius ride in the bumper at Limerick for Paul Hennessy. Those who stayed till later enjoyed his company as Patrick, with one eye on the Manchester United game, went into great depth about the horses.

Asked if Patrick Mullins could ride one horse at the Cheltenham Festival, who would it be?

“Gaelic Warrior.”

Why is that?

“Because I think he will win the Gold Cup.”

An example that sometimes the message doesn’t need to be long, as long as it’s that clear.

“I want another go on Heldam; I think he’s very good. Champagne Fever, Ferny Hollow and Allaho all got beaten at Leopardstown at Christmas. Getting beat there isn’t the nail in the coffin, and I want to see him again before I make any decision.”

“We were hoping to go down the Fact To File route with Mighty Park, the bumper and then straight to chasing, but JP McManus was keen to go hurdling.”

“Paul rode Kopek in Punchestown the other day and he was very happy with him. I rode him the week before in the Curragh and I was very happy with him. We didn’t go to the DRF with him because we didn’t think he was 100% ready, and I think looking at how the race worked out that was probably the right decision. It was a very hard race.”

Manchester United drew 1-1 and Patrick went on his way.

After an evening of great craic, serious chat and laughter, it was off to bed with a Wednesday to look forward to in store.