Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- One-two for Mullins in Saturday opener
Mark Nunan
One-two for Mullins in Saturday opener
Jackfinbar
© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins recorded his third winner of the Galway festival when Jackfinbar led home a stable one-two in the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle.
A smart stayer on the level, the nine-year-old was making his hurdling debut on his first appearance for nearly ten months.
Sent off the 11/4 favourite, Danny Mullins' mount tracked the leaders before picking up well rounding the home turn to lead on the approach to the last.
From there the winner stayed on well to beat the Paul Townend-partnered Hipop De Loire by a length and three quarters in the colours of the Haven't A Pot Partnership.
Mullins reported: "Both my horses were nine and seven years of age and were coming off the Flat so wouldn't have known about hurdling and Jackfinbar was very keen. It is a different pace over jumps so they had to settle back and think, but both did it nicely.
"It was a pity having to run them against each other but I hadn't another opportunity to get them out this week and I wanted to run.
"Jackfinbar had two injuries and was too late when he came out to go novice hurdling last year and with the other fellow (Hipop De Loire), I just wanted to wait with him. They are two nice horses.
"The first and second might go to the Ebor in York now - Absurde got beaten here last year and went on and won the Ebor so these will try and do the same."
Quotes from Tom Weekes