MULLINS BAGS ANOTHER BIG PRIZE
No, not Willie (again).
Emmet Mullins is quickly making a habit of plundering some good prizes in Britain and a week on from Cape Gentleman’s Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle success at Kempton Park, he produced The Shunter to land the valuable Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso under Alain Cawley, who is enjoying the best couple of weeks of what has been a tough season.
Mullins’ last three runners have all won, so it will be interesting to see how he fares with his trio at Leopardstown tomorrow, which includes the formerly classy hurdler Rocket Lad on a recovery mission in the beginners chase.
SNEEZE AND YOU’LL MISS IT
Gordon Elliott dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week, but the IHRB acted swiftly, holding an enquiry on Friday (so within a week of the well-publicised photo coming to light) and deciding on what amounts to a six-month ban. The well-respected Denise ‘Sneezy’ Foster has been lined up to replace Elliott at the helm, but there are just a couple of months left of the 2020/21 National Hunt season proper and it won’t be long before things are back to normal at Cullentra.
ROSBIF RAIDERS
It has been a hugely successful weekend for English trainers in France. On Saturday, Henry Spiller’s well-regarded filly Amy C was a comfortable winner in maiden company at Deauville, while Tom George (pictured) was rewarded for a good bit of placing with success for Bannister at Angers.
On Sunday, Sophie and Christian Leech landed yet another big pot in France, courtesy of €100,000 Quinte handicap hurdle winner Enfant Roi, while owner James Finch celebrated a famous Auteuil double, with Goas Mat scoring on his first start for Mickael Seror in a €50,000 chase.
GROUP 1 SUCCESS FOR O’MEARA
Lord Glitters is the horse of a lifetime, isn’t he? The evergreen eight year old has taken his owners Geoff & Sandra Turnbull on an incredible journey since being purchased for €270,000 at Arqana in 2017. His success in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan on Saturday was a second top-level win, 21 months on from his Queen Anne victory at Royal Ascot in 2019. He is a wonderful advertisement for the skills of his trainer David O’Meara and yet another reminder that his sire, Whipper, can get ’em…despite standing for just €3,000.
