I’m taking on Willie Mullins in the Irish Grand National – but the great man is chasing a hat-trick and history
IF you believe the jumps trainers’ championship is all about who wins this season, then think again.
There is much more at stake here than people have grasped.
A coveted spot in the record books and the chance to make racing history awaits Willie Mullins should he deny Dan Skelton his first trainers’ championship by the end of next week.
Last term, from his Closutton base, Mullins achieved what Vincent O’Brien had done in 1953-4 when he took the title of British champion back to the Emerald Isle.
O’Brien, seen by many as the greatest racehorse handler of all time, also managed to top the table in 1952-3.
So if Mullins achieves a second consecutive championship it sets him up for a hat-trick and history.
That won’t be lost on the perennial Irish main man, whose family is already steeped in racing myth.
It’s also not a good omen for Skelton.
I can’t imagine any scenario in which three consecutive championships wouldn’t be something Mullins would relish.
A legacy that could last forever. From hero record-breaker to God, at least in racing terms.
Plumpton’s Easter weekend fixtures, Perth next week and finally Sandown a week today will be key to who becomes champion jumps trainer this term.
At this stage it would appear the title will be won and lost on the very last day of the jumps season.
This weekend’s TV racing comes from Musselburgh and Haydock, but in many ways it’s the calm before the Classic storm at Newmarket in the first week of May.
I was totally blown away by Field of Gold in Wednesday’s best365 Craven Stakes and I was stunned when he was still available at 7-2 after his blitzing annihilation of Wimbledon Hawkeye and Aomori City.
Let’s not forget that Wimbledon Hawkeye was a decent third in the Group 1 William Hill Futurity at the end of last season, and Aomori City was a fast finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
That’s top class juvenile form and Field of Gold rinsed them on his return, giving them ground and spitting them out close home like an unwanted grape pip.
Field of Gold is now top-priced at 3-1 for the 2000 Guineas, and I really hope he wins it for John & Thady Gosden and Kieran Shoemark.
It’s quite incredible that Gosden Snr has never won the 2000 Guineas, for all he went close with Field of Gold’s sire Kingman.
As for Shoemark, he’s had to sit and suffer while some of Gosden’s owners have dissed him, but that’s their loss.
Juddmonte seem to understand his skills, and Shoemark has a natural talent that is bang up there with anyone.
The coolness he showed on Field of Gold to weave through the pack was something special.
Of course the Guineas will be no ‘shoe-in’, but I for one would love Shoemark to land the prize.
Gosden revealed to me at Newmarket that Shoemark’s Group 1 heroine from last year Friendly Soul is likely to face a clash with star miler Rosallion in the Boylesports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 17.
It promises to be a cracking renewal, and ultimately Friendly Soul will be going further after her success in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera over Arc weekend.
However, she’s a high class filly and not one to be dismissed.
The big race on Easter Bank Holiday Monday is the Boylesports Irish Grand National Chase over 3m5f at Fairyhouse.
At the time of writing I still don’t know the final field, but one I will be hoping is declared is Daily Present, trained by Paul Nolan.
Daily Present is around a 12-1 shot on the back of his defeat of Johnnywho in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.
He’s up 7lb for that, but is on much better form than when pulled up in the contest last year.
As for today I’m hoping for a decent effort from Zowal in the handicap for 3yo over 1m at Musselburgh.
The draw is usually crucial here with low numbers favoured.
On paper a few of Zowal’s rivals look quite high in the handicap and that includes my John & Sean Quinn-trained contender.
That said, the French import was really impressive at the Scottish venue 17 days ago and he is in an ideal spot in stall three to just track the leaders and kick on late in the day.
There should be a gallop to run at with Hot Dancer in the line up so I will take the chance 84 is a fair mark. Good luck!
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