FOR all the winning interviews with members of the Mullins family, I can’t recall one in which they were emotional, so a slight waver in Emmet Mullins’ voice after Vischio’s listed win said a lot.

It’s understandable, given that it came in a race run in memory of his grandparents, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle and, to add to its significance, the winner was partnered by his cousin Danny.

It was the eight-year-old’s first run for the shrewd stable since she was bought by Syndicates Racing’s Jack Cantillon for €52,000 at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale, having previously won a listed race on the flat for Dick Donohoe.

At The Irish Field’s Dublin Racing Festival Preview on Friday evening, Danny Mullins had revealed that the mare was bought with this race in mind, as the Mullins family had never won it before.

It didn’t look like the plan was going to work out with two to jump, as the mud-splattered silks were hard to pick out in midfield, but she was expertly woven through horses to chase the leaders approaching the final flight.

Edge of your seat

She and Mullins continued their cat-and-mouse route to lead soon after, staying on to score by five lengths. It had previously looked like another Mullins might win the race, but the Tom Mullins-trained Kimy (28/1) was forced to settle for runners-up honours.

We weren’t the only ones holding our breath watching Danny’s hold-up ride, according to her trainer. “I said to him to hold onto her for two miles and he was adamant he’d hold onto her for two miles and one! She met a lot of trouble but was tough and gutsy and hit the line well.

“It’s been a special 12 months winning Granny’s race, the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, as well.” On future plans for Vischio, the trainer commented: “If there was an early season pattern race on the flat with cut in the ground, she’ll probably take her chance.”

A horse on the up

McLaurey (3/1 favourite) continued a memorable day for Emmet Mullins when justifying strong market support in the Listed Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle, as Mark Walsh and J.P. McManus each gained their third win of the weekend.

The now six-year-old had shaped like a nice type when winning his maiden hurdle at Limerick over the Christmas period and confirmed that promise again on Sunday, winning with more authority than the margin of a length suggested.

Storm Heart (9/2), who was having his first start since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at last year’s Punchestown Festival, took second, while bottom weight Irish Panther finished third.

“I was sure I had an improving horse coming here today,” the winning trainer said. “He’s definitely improved every run. He’s mentally not there yet, although Mark said today was the first time he ever travelled in a race.

“I think there is a big engine in there and we are only scratching at the surface. He’s still a big baby.”

Cromwell eyes Cheltenham

Gavin Cromwell ended the Dublin Racing Festival with three winners from nine runners, the final victor being Backtonormal (11/4f) in the Grade 3 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase worth €150,000.

His supporters had plenty to cheer for turning for home, as a confident Conor Stone-Walsh tracked the leader and his mount ran on to lead after the final fence. He was eased close home to score by three and a quarter lengths from Sequestered, while Monbeg Park finished well to take third, despite repeated tail swishing.

Sunday’s successful start in handicap company has Cromwell eyeing another major fixture for the seven-year-old, who is owned by Darren Cahill, Mary Furlong and Michael Byrne.

“I wouldn’t rule out going for the two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap at Cheltenham,” the trainer said. “His work lately has been good. We thought he’d run a big race, and he duly did. The step up in trip and niceish ground suited and Conor was very good on him. He’s a good rider.”