Kel Histoire off to winning start for Willie Mullins in Mallow Maiden Hurdle
Win Winning Hurdle Racing And Histoire Photo Picture: healy Walsh Mark Start: kel The Maiden Mallow
As part of a would-be treble for the trainer on Friday’s card in Cork, Willie Mullins introduced an exciting sort in the shape of Kel Histoire, who took the opening race, the Mallow Maiden Hurdle.
The four-year-old Masked Marvel gelding, bought for €200,000 at the Arqana Autumn sale in Deauville, was a touch untidy with his jumping, but it improved as the race progressed and by the time he crossed the line, the JP McManus-owned gelding was well on top.
“He was sticky over the first three but once he warmed into it, he jumped well,” said winning rider Mark Walsh. “First time over hurdles, you wouldn’t mind any horse making novicey mistakes like that, but the further he went the better he jumped. I’d say he would go on slower ground, but he’s fine on that ground.”
Mullins claimed his second of the day when Fancy Girl overcame a long absence to win the Racing TV Mares’ Maiden Hurdle. Paul Townend kept it quite simple aboard the six-year-old, who won a bumper at this venue in January 2023 but was last seen at the Punchestown festival of the same year. She jumped well most of the way and picked up well in the homestraight to see off the promising Full Of Life.
Mullins and Townend combined again to complete the trainer’s treble when Spindleberry got up in a thrilling finish to collar the bold-jumping Majestic Force in the mares’ beginners’ chase. The latter tried to make all the running and jumped remarkably well until reaching for the final fence.
The mistake, though not severe, gave impetus to Spinidleberry’s challenge and the favourite got up in the final strides.
“I jumped well but the second jumped so well,” said Townend. “She had me just at the pin of my collar. I wasn’t missing fences, but she was getting a length everywhere. My mare took a little blow, and I said I’ll have one go instead of getting in a battle and having to ask all the way down the straight.
“She was brave for me at the last. I thought, going to the last, that bar I had bad luck, I’d give her a run. Obviously, we were helped by Darragh’s mare reaching for it, but I had the momentum up as well. He had committed and his mare was maintaining a gallop, whereas I was picking up.
“She took a blow and will come on for it, and she’ll go on a touch slower ground. I thought it was a good performance.”
Mullins also provided the favourite for the second race, the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle, but his representative, Magic McColgan, didn’t seem to be enjoying herself at any stage and had to play second fiddle to easy winner Relieved Of Duties, trained by Gordon Elliott.
Gavin Cromwell has his team purring along nicely and Robbies Rock landed a gamble when taking the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Conor Stone Walsh.
Mick Winters, sporting facial hair, which he attributed to his impending role as Father Jack, from the Father Ted series, in a charity sketch, was in top form as he welcomed his winner, the Gavin Brouder-ridden Crowsatedappletart, back to the winner’s enclosure following the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
“He was sticky over the first four hurdles but heated up and those Kerry lads (jockey Brouder) are hard workers. We are glad to have him as a replacement when our other man, Darragh O’Keeffe, isn’t available.”
The finale, a beginners’ chase, produced an exciting finish in which Banjaxed, ridden by Ricky Doyle for Lorna Fowler, got up late to deny the oh-so-game El Champo and the perhaps-unlucky Beggars Rock, who over-jumped at the last and conceded valuable ground and momentum.