TUESDAY’S National Hunt Chase will be run in honour of the late Maureen Mullins.
Mrs Mullins, who died aged 94 last month, was the matriarch of one of the most successful and well-known families in the sport.
A winning rider, owner and breeder in her own right, she was the wife of Paddy, the trainer of the great Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup-winning mare Dawn Run.
The couple had five children, among them trainers Tom, Tony and Willie – the latter now Ireland’s leading National Hunt handler and a huge presence at the Cheltenham Festival. Her grandsons Danny, Emmet and Patrick have all ridden winners at the Festival, with Patrick taking first place in the National Hunt Chase four times for his father Willie, making him the contest’s leading jockey.
Long-standing tradition
The Jockey Club’s Ian Renton said: “The National Hunt Chase has a long tradition of commemorating some of jump racing’s most famous names and we are delighted that the Mullins family has agreed to have the historic contest run in honour of Maureen Mullins in 2024.
“A true stalwart of jump racing, Maureen Mullins was a regular visitor to the Festival and her sad passing last month leaves a big void. We hope that putting her name to the National Hunt Chase celebrates her tremendous legacy in the appropriate way.”
Willie Mullins said: “Our family are delighted and honoured to have a race named after our mother Maureen, who had a great affinity for Cheltenham and enjoyed every moment there.”
Tony Mullins added: “Undoubtedly the correct race for a great stayer.”
Iroko now a definite runner in Turners
IROKO has connections excited as he prepares to complete his comeback from injury in the Turners Novices’ Chase on Thursday.
The six-year-old gave upwardly mobile training duo Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero a landmark first Festival success when claiming the Martin Pipe 12 months ago.
It seemed unlikely he would feature at this year’s showcase meeting, with an injury suffered shortly after his imperious chasing debut expected to keep him out of action for the rest of the campaign.
However, he returned to full training quicker than anticipated and will head to Prestbury Park’s new course attempting to repeat last year’s heroics in an open Turners Novices’ Chase that kicks off day three of the Festival.
All set
“He’s absolutely fine and in good health and is all set to run – we’re looking forward to running him on the Thursday in the Turners,” said Greenall.
“He seemed to really handle the new course (in the Martin Pipe), but I think he’s pretty versatile and he would handle the old course just as well.”
The injury sustained by Iroko earlier in the season has left his training team in a race against time to prepare their stable star for the Cheltenham Festival.
Despite failing to beat the clock in order to provide the gelding with a prep run, Iroko successfully came through an away day at nearby Haydock recently, with Greenall believing the experience he has garnered running in handicaps will stand him in good stead for his Turners assignment.
“It (possible races) just came too soon really, fitness wise, but he has been away and schooled at Haydock and we’ve done everything we can,” continued Greenall.
“I think the fact he has run in some good juvenile races and some good handicaps, he is streetwise in that sense and it will just be jumping the fences at speed he will lack experience in, I suppose.”
Big afternoon
It could be a big afternoon for the Greenall and Guerrero partnership, as fast on the heels of Iroko, in the very next race they will saddle White Rhino in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.
A general 10/1 shot to land a knockout blow with the bookmakers, the eight-year-old brings solid course form to the table, having finished second at the November meeting before going one better over the Pertemps track and trip the following month.
He was last seen qualifying for this event by finishing third at Huntingdon and is predicted to sharpen up for that outing back in the Cotswolds.
“He will go in the Pertemps on the same day, if he gets in,” continued Greenall.
“He seems to have come on nicely since his Huntingdon run, has a nice weight and we look forward to running him.”
Brazil well-backed with Bar One Racing
TWO former Cheltenham Festival winners have been subject to some particularly large each-way bets with Bar One Racing.
Spokesman Kieran Burke reports that Telmesomethinggirl has been very well supported for the Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day while Brazil has been backed for the Coral Cup on Wednesday.
Owned by Barney O’Hare, Bar One Racing is gearing up for a busy week in its 53 shops, website and Dundalk call centre.
“We are ‘best odds guaranteed on single and multiple bets on all British and Irish racing, including the Festival,” Burke reported. “We’ll also be a standout price on every favourite across the four days thanks to our price boosts on the live show market leader. We offer price boosts on the live show favourite in every race on at least one British or Irish meeting every day in our shops and online. This is a real favourite with our customers, so it makes sense to apply it to the Festival.
“Of course, backing a winner in some of the big handicaps is just as enjoyable as picking the winner of the championship races so we’ll also have extra places on offer all week long.”