My 7-1 bet365 Gold Cup tip has untapped potential… and why we should all salute King Willie Mullins at Sandown
“DO it again William, do it again.”
Almost certainly that would have been the rallying cry from the late and sorely missed racing matriarch Maureen Mullins if she were at Sandown today to witness her Irish boy become Britain’s champion trainer for the first time.
And as is the case with so many horses, it’s family breeding which has instilled a mindset in the Closutton maestro to be the best, train the best and employ the best.
My Saturday NAP
AMIRITE (3.35 Sandown)
Rachael Blackmore takes the ride on a chaser who still has untapped potential in marathon handicaps. This eight-year-old could be underestimated for former Grand National-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead in the big race on Saturday.
There is much more to the Mullins domination than meets the eye.
But, however you look at it, his feat is quite extraordinary in becoming the first Irish trainer to land the British jumps title since Vincent O’Brien in 1954.
Maureen Mullins passed in February at the age of 94.
The mother of a dynasty in Willie, Tony, Tom, George and Sandra and grandmother to jockeys Danny and Patrick, along with David, Charlie and Emmet.
“I’d imagine she would be immensely proud of what Willie has achieved,” Tony Mullins told me.
“And probably after attending Sandown she would then start to give him advice on how to repeat the same feat again!”
Willie Mullins in numbers is the stuff of legend.
The standout digits are simple: champion trainer in Ireland 17 times and a record 103 victories at the Cheltenham Festival, the arena in which every handler is ultimately judged.
So how and why has Mullins become the ultimate jumping force?
A man able to swat the powerhouses of Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton.
When you delve deep it goes back to breeding. But of course genes are not enough. You need a desire above all others, and a way of dealing with people.
The latter might just be Mullins’ trump card.
Since his first winner with Silver Batchelor in a Thurles bumper in February 1988, Mullins has not always done better each season but what he has done is always build, invest and grow.
That has seen the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Al Boum Photo, Hurricane Fly, Faugheen, Annie Power and State Man take centre stage.
Not to mention the Grand National heroes Hedgehunter and I Am Maximus.
Success internationally and on the Flat has also not been lacking.
Blackstairmountain won the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan, while there have been wins in Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Throw in Royal Ascot success and a Classic victory with Wicklow Brave in the 2016 Irish St Leger.
Mullins’ never give up attitude was seen to best example when eight years ago he lost his bid to be Britain’s champion trainer at today’s same Sandown fixture.
A disagreement over training fees meant soon after he would see a quarter of his string owned by Gigginstown taken out from the yard.
Gigginstown is owned by Michael O’Leary — not a man to be messed with in business.
Mullins, though, was a man not for turning.
Now, O’Leary once again has horses with Mullins.
“For Willie to become champion trainer in Britain is historic,” O’Leary told me.
“And it comes in a season when he has won the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup and Grand National. That’s almost impossible. Enough said.
“Willie is clearly a brilliant trainer. He sees things others don’t. What I admire most is his sourcing team who keep finding nuggets in strange places and he polishes them into diamonds.”
Mullins rarely plays in handicaps. What does that tell us?
Well it makes you wonder about how he looks at the game. He doesn’t seem interested in playing the system.
You could hardly call the Mullins yard a ‘gambling’ stable’, again despite the fact we would all hazard a guess he could plot one up.
Mullins just wants to win.
And there are no airs and graces, just total charm. That’s how he juggles O’Leary, and other massive backers in JP McManus and Rich Ricci.
They all want the best, and they know if they are to have that they have to do it the Mullins way.
You meet Willie Mullins and, whoever you are, he tips his hat and shakes a person’s hand.
I saw this time and time again at the Cheltenham Festival in March — even to me!
There is no side to Mullins. That rich smile beams, and he makes people feel special.
He’s never trying to be centre of attention, and is happiest with the small group of friends he has had most of his life.
Mullins values his horses. He values his friends. And he won’t be at some fancy restaurant after racing but heading home to his local Lord Bagenal Inn.
We should all value him. A legend.
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