The 2011 Irish Racing Yearbook THE IRISH RACING YEARBOOK 2011, which is now on sale priced €19.95, features a revealing interview with champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins. Mullins harbours an ambition to win two Gold Cups – one at Cheltenham and another at Royal Ascot, saying: “I would like to win a Gold Cup and a Champion Hurdle,” he said, “and I’d love to find a good dual purpose horse, a stayer, that I could go for races like the Ascot Gold Cup with.”   He also went on to discuss hopes for some of his top horses including Hurricane Fly and Mikael D'Haguenet. “My aim this season is just to try and keep Hurricane Fly sound for Cheltenham. The Champion Hurdle is the aim.” He added of Mikael D’Haguenet: “The RSA Chase at Cheltenham is an obvious target for us but he may also have enough speed for the Arkle.” There are over 30 features packed into the 240-page Yearbook, and subjects include the best gambles of the year and lists of horses to follow from the experts. Among the personalities interviewed are Dessie and Richard Hughes, trainers Gordon Elliott and David Marnane, bookmaker David Power and the Gigginstown House Stud team.   There is a tribute to the late Paddy Mullins, and the supermares Goldikova and Zenyatta are honoured. All of the 2010 Irish Horse Racing Awards nominees are profiled. Ireland’s top three apprentice jockeys of 2010 are featured as are three past champions, all now based in Britain. The Juddmonte Farms operation is examined and there are extensive stallion statistics plus a comprehensive review of the sales year. Readers can win some valuable prizes in a Yearbook quiz, and there are vouchers for discounted racecourse admission included. It is on sale now in all good newsagents and bookshops.
